"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

It Was Truly An April Fool's Day

State Budget Deadline 11:59 PM March 31 Missed
Special Election Deadline 11:59 PM March 31 Missed

Budget


The deadline for the New York State Budget has come and gone. Another late state budget and another year of excuses from people who lack the skill of time management. You will hear; it is better to get it right, then to just accept any budget deal. Just a moment here, you have had the budget proposal since January 22nd.

And the getting it right part; the budget proposal increases state funds spending by well over the inflation rate, it increases debt and leaves out year budget gaps of over 7 billion dollars. It leaves open prisons that will require $30 million in upkeep, yet it fails to address pay raises for judges who have worked since 1999 without one and all because the raises are being held hostage by Speaker Silver.

The process needs to be reformed, it needs to be more open and transparent through a greater use of budget committees. The current centralized power structure needs to be abandon for term limits on the positions of Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker. Also, lobbyist should be restricted from lobbying 30 days before the budget deadline, that gives them 11 months to make their cases to lawmakers and a 1 month resting period while the legislators get their work done.


Special Election


The deadline for calling a special election in the 118th Assembly district has come and gone as well.

No one to represent people of that district in Albany until January 1, 2009.
No one to hear the issues that constituents need to be working with a representative on.
No one to intercede for constituents on their behalf to ensure proper action and responses.
No one for local governments to work with in order to move their initiatives along.
No one to interact with state government and its agencies on our behalf

The 118th Assembly District is an orphan child in the New York State Assembly.

So, let the primary announcements begin, both parties should guard against any deals to close the process, open primaries, it is up to the candidate and the parties to rally people behind the person after the primary.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whew! I, for one, am so glad that a special wasn't called. All that would have done is exactly what you DON"T want- backroom deals and ugly campaigns resulting in seating someone (anyone?)just in time to start the summer campaign season as an "incumbent." As to being unrepresented, that is technically true. But do you really think that Dede and Darrel aren't capable of looking out for us in the interim?

Anonymous said...

Town of Pamelia councilman Tim Kelly (and brother of Ogdensburg newspaperman Chuck Kelly is telling people he is seeking the Dem line in the Assembly race.........

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