Where’s Senate reform guru Dave Valesky?
The head of the Democrat-led Senate’s reform caucus has been silent as the downstate triumvirate that controls legislation has reverted to secret, closed-door meetings on the budget.
Now, NYC Democrats Gov. Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Leader Malcolm Smith—who have been holding secret budget meetings without informing the press and public—have announced they will hash out the state’s $121 billion budget entirely in private, in violation of the state's budget reform law.
Malcolm Smith and the Senate Democrats campaigned on reform yet they are moving state government backwards.
Senator Darrel Aubertine campaigned on a more open process that included conference committees but that has all been laid aside.
Not holding the committees not only violate a 2007 law meant to open up the process, it also is "incredibly insensitive'' to make the decision on the eve of "Sunshine Week,'' said Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group."It's been the same old, same old negotiations behind closed doors," according to Susan Lerner, executive director of New York Common Cause.
Read the story at: Stargazette
3 comments:
These guys -- dave valesky, Darrel Aubertine and the NYC Democrats -- are not in power for 90 days and already they've reverted to the worst of Albany's ways.
Where's the promised change? Where's the reform?
No, they're just in it for themselves.
Like I have stated before I will vote for no one with incumbant by his/her name. Regardless of party they all need to go byebye!!!!!!!
Change you can believe in.
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