from a GPNYS press release:
The Green Party of New York State (GPNYS) decries the latest power play in the NY State Senate. The leadership coup on Monday night by the Republican Party and at least two Democrats, one under investigation for fraud and the other for physical assault, is the newest in a serious of undemocratic and disgraceful acts that have earned the State Legislature the title of most undemocratic and “Stalinist” from the Brennan Center for Law and Justice. The Green Party calls for immediate overhaul of Legislative procedures and electoral reform, including full public financing of campaigns, proportional representation, and allowing bills to come to a floor vote without leadership approval. The Green Party also calls for the NY State Attorney General and the Albany District Attorney to protect taxpayers by taking action against Floridian Thomas Golisano for potential bribery of two of the coup members, and all of the legislators who have been suspected or convicted of criminal activity.
“The coup leaders: Golisano, Skelos, Espada, and Monserrate claim that this is a step towards democratic reform, yet this is clearly a power play by a few disgruntled Democrats who are under investigation for fraud and physical assault, Republicans angry about their allotted share of pork, and a billionaire who believes he has a right to manipulate state government because of his wealth. While the former Democratic majority was in no hurry to make any reforms to state legislative practices, this is a coup instigated by Tom Golisano who was so angry that there was any move made to tax the ruling class to cover the budget shortfall that he has claimed a move to Florida, with this as his parting gift,” said Eric Jones, state co-chair of the Green Party.
“Real reform would require basic but fundamental changes to the legislature and
electoral politics that would actually increase grassroots democracy in New York. The legislature should decrease leadership power by allowing bills to come to a debate and vote without leadership approval – something that is commonplace in most parliaments around the world. Pork and earmarks should be banned from bills and replaced with a state bank that provides low-interest loans to municipalities. Public financing of elections and proportional representation would help remove money
from politics and break the stranglehold of the two parties on the legislature. Finally, government should be decentralized from Albany and power should be invested as much as possible in the citizenry and direct, grassroots assemblies, not Legislators-for-life in Albany,” said David Doonan, mayor of Greenwich. Read more »
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