Assemblyman Gianaris, Citzens Union, Common Cause/NY Contend Current State Law Allows Governor Paterson To Appoint Lt. Governor Shows How State Constitution and Public Officers Law Can Be Used to Break Albany Impasse
New York State Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey, and Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner today sent Governor David A. Paterson a letter outlining how under current law he can appoint a Lt. Governor and in doing so resolve the impasse that has paralyzed state government.
Though it has become accepted conventional wisdom that a vacancy in the office of Lt. Governor cannot be filled until the next statewide election, the letter posits that the plain language of the Constitution and the Public Officers Law gives the Governor the power to appoint a Lt. Governor who can serve until next year's elections.
The letter contends that Section 43 of the Public Officers Law applies in this situation and is not precluded by the Constitutional mandate that the Temporary President of the Senate shall perform the duties of the Lt. Governor during a vacancy. Public Officer Law Section 43 states " [i]f a vacancy shall occur, otherwise than by expiration of term, with no provision of law for filling the same, if the office be elective, the governor shall appoint a person to execute the duties thereof until the vacancy shall be filled by an election…"
Read the full release here...
We at Common Cause New York are fed up with the gridlock in our State Senate
Already, their antics have
* Stalled important bills on campaign finance, election reform, federal stimulus oversight, and ethics,
* Blocked renewal of City and county authority to help the unemployed, run schools and collect sales tax, and
* Generally made Albany a national laughingstock.
Aren't you fed up too? We need our State Senators to put aside petty power struggles and get the people's work done. That's what they've been elected to do.
Let's send a message to New York's State Senators. Tell them to get back to work and stick with it!
We'll deliver your message attached to a glue stick so that your State Senator will understand you mean business.
Could public financing of elections work successfully in New York State?
Common Cause New York thinks so!
Join us on Thursday, March 19, for "Money in Politics: A Forum on Campaign Finance" to learn how public financing has worked in Connecticut, and to explore viable options for public funding here in New York.
Speakers will include Ed Gomes, the Assistant Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate who ran his re-election campaign using Connecticut's new Clean Election Program.
The program will also feature Karen Hobert-Flynn, Common Cause's Vice President for State Operations, who led the grassroots campaign that helped secure passage of Connecticut's Citizens' Election Program.
Be sure to mark your calendar:
Money in Politics: A Forum on Campaign Finance
Thursday, March 19, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Albany Institute of History & Art
125 Washington Ave., near Dove St.
Albany, NY 12202
RSVP is not required, so bring a friend or two, and learn about how we can reform New York’s campaign finance system!
Could public financing of elections work successfully in New York State?
Common Cause New York thinks so!
Join us on Thursday, March 19, for "Money in Politics: A Forum on Campaign Finance" to learn how public financing has worked in Connecticut, and to explore viable options for public funding here in New York.
Speakers will include Ed Gomes, the Assistant Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate who ran his re-election campaign using Connecticut's new Clean Election Program.
The program will also feature Karen Hobert-Flynn, Common Cause's Vice President for State Operations, who led the grassroots campaign that helped secure passage of Connecticut's Citizens' Election Program.
Be sure to mark your calendar:
Money in Politics: A Forum on Campaign Finance
Thursday, March 19, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Albany Institute of History & Art
125 Washington Ave., near Dove St.
Albany, NY 12202
RSVP is not required, so bring a friend or two, and learn about how we can reform New York’s campaign finance system!
The new Common Cause/New York Newsletter
is now available for download.
Download your full color newsletter today.
Common Cause/New York Newsletter
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Keeley
February 25, 2009
Common Cause/New York
(212) 691-6421 or (917) 847-3625
MEDIA ADVISORY
DOZENS OF DIVERSE GROUPS PRESENT CITY POLICYMAKERS A PLAN THAT WOULD BOLSTER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS
NYS Stimulus Oversight Working Group Demand Local Officials Prevent Transparency and Accountability “Blackholes” Currently in Federal Guidelines
WHO:
Members of the NYS Stimulus Oversight Working Group to be joined by Councilmembers Bill de Blasio, Gale Brewer, Jessica Lappin, and John Liu will hold a news conference to call on New York City policymakers to enhance the transparency and accountability standards regarding the allocation and use of federal stimulus funds.
WHAT:
NYS Stimulus Oversight Working Group will release its Common Principles for Transparency and Accountability and ‘Taxpayer’s Right to Know,’ urging New York’s policymakers to adopt principles of fairness and effectiveness and incorporate them into the city-level investment plans expected by the federal stimulus package. Setting up a transparent process before the money is allocated will avoid future recriminations and investigations.
WHEN:
Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE:
Steps of New York City Hall
Members of the NYS Stimulus Oversight Working Group, as of Feb. 25, 2009
Alliance for Quality Education || Campaign For Fiscal Equity || Citizens Budget Commission || Citizens Union || Common Cause/New York || Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Hts. || Consumers Union || Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn || Drum Major Institute || Empire State Consumer Project || Environmental Advocates of New York || Fiscal Policy Institute || Good Jobs New York || NEDAP || NYC AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN) || New York Jobs With Justice || New York Public Interest Research Group || People's Production House || Queens Civic Congress || Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter || Tri-State Transportation Campaign || Urban Justice Center, Community Development Project
(list in formation)
Feb. 6, 2009
New Yorkers without lots of money or connections often can’t find out what’s going on – much less influence it. The new leaders of the state senate have promised to change that through the creation of a new Rules Reform Committee. We need to let them all know that this is an important moment and they can't squander this opportunity.
Common Cause/New York members and allies have an opportunity to turn up the public pressure and let the Rules Reform Committee know that it is time to open up the state senate. Now is the time to:
* Write a Letter to the Editor
* Call your senator, and also call the Co-Chairs of the Rules Reform Committee, Sen. David Valesky at (518) 455-2838 and Sen. John Bonacic at (518) 455-3181; and
* Attend Rules Reform Committee hearings and consider testifying. Hearings are scheduled for:
-1- Syracuse: Friday, February 6
-2- Albany: Tuesday, February 10
-3- New York City: Thursday, February 26
-4- Long Island: Friday, February 27
Click here to TAKE ACTION and learn more!
Common Cause/New York joined with members of a coalition we've been co-ordinating, New Yorkers for Fair and Affordable Utility Service, to call on Governor Paterson to commit to an open appointment process regarding the NYS Public Service Commission and recommend he adopt “Proposed Qualifications” for potential nominees.
“This is a simple matter of effective governance and accountability – Governor Paterson should introduce his nominees to the public and allow New Yorkers to learn about their qualifications and positions," Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/New York, "New York cannot afford a continuation of the PSC's 'asleep at the switch' approach to energy, utility, and telecommunications regulation and policy. The criteria that we announce today are designed to insure that nominees are conversant with, and sensitive to, issues like worker safety and consumer and environmental protection that are too often overlooked in a selection process that has centered on industry experience or patronage in the past.”
Organizations signing the letter to Gov. Paterson include the American Lung Association in NY, Center for Independence of the Disabled, Citizen Action of NY, Common Cause/NY, Communications Workers of America - District 1, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Harlem Consumer Education Council, Hunger Action Network of NYS, Interfaith Council for Action, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of NYS, NYS Community Action Association, NYPIRG, NY Statewide Senior Action Council, NY Media Alliance, NYS Community Action Association, People’s Production House, Public Utility Law Project, and Rural Law Center.
TAKE ACTION NOW to Open up the PSC || Read the letter to Gov. Paterson || Read background info on the PSC & Coalition || Read the press release ||
Jan. 27, 2009
Common Cause/New York is continuing to push for improvements to New York's ethics laws and oversight. Sunday's "Legislative system under indictment" in the Albany Times Union featured Common Cause's Susan Lerner prominently, while the Associated Press wrote the following in "Reformers want lobbying watchdog for NY board":
Common Cause of New York, the New York Public Interest Research Group and other advocates said David Grandeau or someone with similar stature should be chosen to lead the Public Integrity Commission. Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer abolished the state lobbying commission and Grandeau's job as its executive director in 2007. Spitzer combined the lobbying and ethics commissions and then made many of the appointments to the new Public Integrity Commission.
The coalition of advocates that also includes the League of Women Voters and Citizens Union of the City of New York said Grandeau has the experience to deal with New York's ethics and lobbying laws.
"While we did not always agree with the actions of the lobbying commission, we never had a doubt that Mr. Grandeau was endeavoring to act in the public's best interest," the group stated in a letter to Gov. David Paterson.
Read the Times Union article || Read the A.P. article
Jan. 24, 2009
The New York Times editorial page cited the statement we released yesterday regarding the eight-count indictment of former-NYS Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
When Joseph Bruno, a former New York State senator, retired last year, he took reporters on a tour of all the monuments in the Albany area that bear his name. Now, added to the stadium, the park and the bust at the airport, there is a 35-page federal indictment on eight counts that charges him withtrading his considerable influence for more than $3 million in consulting fees or other compensation.
Mr. Bruno, a 79-year-old former boxer, has pleaded not guilty and vowed to fight the charges. But, as a statement from Common Cause, a government watchdog group, concluded correctly, this is “an indictment of not only Joe Bruno, but New York State’s ethics laws.” Mainly, it is the latest evidence that New York’s lawmakers cannot police themselves adequately. They need federal agents and United States attorneys to do it for them.
Read the full editorial, "A Very Old Story" || Read the Common Cause statement
Jan. 20, 2009
Common Cause was featured in a few news articles over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.
+ Councilman Gioia Proposes Mandatory Public Service for Students, The Epoch Times: Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Queens) and representatives from City Year, New York Cares, Common Cause NY, and Big Brothers Big Sisters gathered at the Church of St. Francis Xavier on Sunday, Jan. 18... “Community service in high school has been shown to increase voter participation, but its effects are felt even more broadly,” said Chris Keeley, Associate Director of Common Cause NY. “First-hand community service encourages not only increased participation in elections, but life long civic engagement. Proposals such as this help to reinvigorate democracy and strengthen New York’s communities.”
+ Verizon crosses wires with critics, The New York Daily News: Verizon is pushing its aging copper telephone lines to limp along with quick fixes - often leading to outages - until its heralded FiOS fiber-optic network becomes available citywide in 2014, critics and company insiders charge... Anne Dalton, spokeswoman for the state Public Service Commission, which regulates Verizon, said the company improved service recently, but must "balance its legacy network" of copper lines with the long-term benefits of FiOS.
Chris Keeley, associate director of the New York chapter of the citizen's lobbying group Common Cause, called out the commission for "a complete lack of oversight" on Verizon's splicing practices. "If there are these problems with Verizon, then they should be addressed by Verizon - but it's the PSC's responsibility to ensure that's done," Keeley said.
Read more media coverage In the News
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Assemblyman Gianaris, Citzens Union, Common Cause/NY Contend Current State Law Allows Governor Paterson To Appoint Lt. Governor Shows How State Constitution and Public Officers Law Can Be Used to Break Albany Impasse
Fed up with gridlock in the State Senate
Could public financing of elections work successfully in New York State?
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