"The legislative power of this state shall be vested in the senate and assembly" -- New York State Constitution, Article III, Section 1.
That's what New Yorkers expect.
Instead, we have a government by, for and of the special interests. These groups have narrow goals and represent a small class of people -- real estate, health care, nurses, public employees and so on.
These groups spend millions and millions of dollars electing and re-electing legislators who support these narrow goals. The results are great for those small classes of people, but over time those results have become disastrous for New York state and those New Yorkers who don't have millions spent on their behalf.
So far, the special interests have given us the highest per capita taxes in the country, seemingly unstoppable state debt growth, gerrymandering, Politburo-like re-election rates, laughable campaign finance rules, an exodus of population, especially our young and best-educated, and a budget that again grew at twice the rate of inflation.
These results are devastating and unsustainable for New York and New Yorkers.
I founded Responsible New York to be the antidote to these special interests and their narrow goals.
Responsible New York will provide money, endorsements and support to legislators and candidates who pledge to support a broad range of goals and reforms. Our objectives are not to help the few but to help the many.
Specifically, Responsible New York is advocating for:
This broad platform seeks to reform and renew New York, improve the competitive climate for business in New York, and make our state live within its means and stop burdening our grandchildren and great-grandchildren with costs they cannot afford.
Our goals must be broad and so must our actions. Responsible New York will endorse throughout New York, from Upstate to New York City and Long Island to the North Country. We will support Democrats and Republicans and Independents. The only qualification necessary to earn our support is an unshakable commitment to reform.
Already the special interests are attacking me and attacking Responsible New York.
Responsible New York is not a PAC; it is an Independent Unauthorized Committee under New York state election law. Any contribution we make to a candidate will be within the state-approved campaign finance limits. At the same time, New York state and federal election laws allow us to make unlimited expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to candidates, so long as we do not coordinate those expenditures. We will not coordinate any such expenditures.
I am not seeking to do this alone. We will not succeed by going alone.
I made a contribution that I can afford.
I ask you to do the same.
People for Responsible New York will accept contributions up to $100 from anyone and everyone who will support our goals.
Responsible New York has many goals but one true objective: to once again make sure New York's government is by the people, for the people and of the people.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | July 22 2008 |