Public interest organizations that have been advocating for the successful implementation of a Citizens Redistricting Commission applauded the efforts of the Bureau of State Audits to develop a qualified, diverse pool of candidates. The Bureau of State Audits has just finished narrowing the original pool of over 30,000 applicants for the new citizens redistricting commission to 120 individuals.
Now that the Applicant Review Panel has narrowed the applicants to 120 individuals to bring in for interviews, we are pleased that the diversity is very close to that of the state’s population: 12% are Black, 30% are of Latino heritage, 14% are Asian and/or Pacific Islander, and 5% are American Indian. This is a very important development in securing the public’s trust. For more information on the Commission selection, click here.
Common Cause Massachusetts released the following statement regarding final passage of the pension reform conference committee report:
“The legislature has chalked up a major victory for reform,” said Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts “The bill closes loopholes in the law and will prevent some of the most significant abuses in the pension system. Like the Senate bill, the conference committee report applies to present as well as future employees, which we applaud.”
At a State House press conference just prior to the meeting of the Massachusetts Electoral College, lawmakers, advocates, and former presidential nominee Michael Dukakis called for a dramatic change in the way we elect the President of the United States.
Supporters want to see the popular vote determine the winner of the next presidential election rather than the current winner-take-all method of assigning electors.
At a State House hearing today lawmakers considered a reform that would dramatically change the way we elect the President of the United States.
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee that the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia will win the Presidency, rather than the current winner-take all in all states but Maine and Nebraska.
As the 2005-2006 legislative session winds down, Common Cause Massachusetts joins Senator Marian Walsh, numerous other legislators, Attorney General Tom Reilly, former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, Phil Johnston, and others in supporting an independent commission to conduct a far-reaching review of what went wrong with the Central Artery project.
While there are many reviews underway, none has the scope or the independence to look at the big picture, to evaluate how we avoid the similar pitfalls in the future, and to make recommendations on how laws and government structures should change. It is clear that there were a number of institutional failings here beyond individual culpability. They need to be exposed by a panel free from conflict of interest or bias. Not only will that give the public confidence in the results, it will also have the best chance of uncovering systemic problems and provide the most clout for proposing appropriate remedies.
The Massachusetts Senate voted to enact the national popular vote legislation. Once passed by other states constituting a majority in the Electoral College, the law will create a popular vote in presidential elections rather than continuing to use the state-by-state winner-take-all system that is currently the norm. The legislation, which was enacted in the Massachusetts House last week recieved final approval in the Senate this afternoon with a vote 28 to 9, now sits before Governor Deval Patrick. Click here to see how State Senators voted. Click here to see how State Representatives voted. Click here to view a summary of the bill. Click here to view the full text of the bill. Click here to download a factsheet.
Click here to see how State Senators voted.
Click here to see how State Representatives voted.
Click here to view a summary of the bill.
Click here to view the full text of the bill.
Click here to download a factsheet.
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...
Our groups believe that the rules changes adopted last night include changes that will make the State Senate more open and accountable, but do not go far enough to improve the arcane internal operations of the Senate.
With the State Senate set to reconvene this afternoon, good government groups Citizens Union of the City of New York, Common Cause/NY, the League of Women Voters/N.Y.S. and NYPIRG urged senators to stick with their promises of enacting real reform. The groups pointed to statements made by various senators from both parties during the month-long stalemate declaring the crisis was fueled by the need for meaningful reform, not power politics. The good government groups urged the senators to stick with their promises for reform.
Over the past several months, the NYS Stimulus Oversight Group, Senator José M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx), and Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) have led an initiative to ensure that Federal Stimulus funds are utilized with utmost efficiency. A Stimulus Oversight Panel launched yesterday by Governor Paterson incorporates many of the major components of a bill introduced by Serrano and Gianaris.
The legislation (S5879/A8941) aimed to make New York the most reliable recipient of federal stimulus funds in the country by establishing an independent Ombudsman's office to help disburse and track the impact of Federal stimulus funds.
Common Cause applauds Governor Paterson for appointing a new Lieutenant-Governor, a bold and much-needed action that will help to bring an end to one large factor contributing to the ongoing Senate stalemate. By filling the vacancy, the Governor is ensuring the State Senate will once again have a presiding officer who can cast a tie-breaking vote and put to rest the question of succession.
Common Cause is pleased that Governor Paterson has followed the recommendation put out forth by Common Cause/New York, the Citizens Union of the City of New York and Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, and will pursue this legal and constitutional course of action. In the days since Common Cause announced its recommendation that Governor Paterson appoint a new Lieutenant-Governor, a number of legal experts and constitutional scholars have come forward in support of the idea, demonstrating its constitutional viability.
Citizens Union and Common Cause/NY today announced the formation of a group of state and constitutional legal experts who support the interpretation of how, under current law, Governor Paterson can appoint a Lt. Governor. The two civic groups, along with Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, on Monday called upon the Governor to act quickly in appointing a Lt. Governor as a means to end the partisan chaos in the state senate and clarify the line of succession to the office of Governor. At the moment, the issue of succession is unclear given that no one individual is universally recognized as Senate President pro tempore.
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.
A coalition of long-time reform organizations today released the outline of their plan to end the Senate stalemate. Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY, the League of Women Voters, and NYPIRG issued their plea as the state Senate entered its fourth week of gridlock.
At this late date, it appears that efforts to develop a long-term solution have failed. Thus, the groups’ plan urges a “moratorium” on the debate over leadership, a bipartisan agreement to wrap up session and approval of new rules. At least initially, the plan focuses on achieving action on the immediate needs facing the state. There is a host of “must do” legislation that demands action. From local taxes to New York City Mayoral control of schools, from allowing additional debt to overhauling the state’s ethics laws, key items need action, now.
Senator José M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx) and Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) drafted a bill to make New York State the national leader in stimulus accountability and effectiveness, with the creation of a dedicated federal Stimulus Ombudsman‟s office. The proposal (S5879/A8941) is supported by the NYS Stimulus Oversight Working Group, the state‟s leading network pushing for fair and equitable distribution of stimulus investments.
"The leadership battle in the Senate has garnered attention that must be rechanneled in a more positive and productive direction. We must not lose focus, and we must continue to do the work of the people," said Senator José M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx). "With the country's current unemployment rate at 9.4 percent, it is incumbent upon us to move the economy forward and to create jobs. This bill gives New York the fantastic opportunity to be the most reliable recipient of federal stimulus funds in the entire country, and to set the example for other states to follow."
Common Cause > Massachusetts > Press > Press Releases > CCMA Press Center
| Common Cause Applauds Passage of Pension Reform Bill For Immediate Release: June 11, 2009 Contact: Pam Wilmot, 617-426-9600 (office) or 617-962-0034 (cell)
ABOUT COMMON CAUSE: ### | Common Cause Applauds Passage of Pension Reform Bill Proponents Urge Enactment of a Nationwide Popular Vote for President by 2012 Good Government Groups Urge Legislative Committee to Enact a Nationwide Popular Vote for President Common Cause Endorses Ward-Commission Style Investigation of the Big Dig |
