GOP Power Play to Strip Lt. Gov. Duffy of Authority Threatens Integrity of the Constitution
 
(Albany, N.Y.) To prevent a potential constitutional crisis caused by the Senate Republicans’ attempt to strip Lt. Gov. Duffy – Upstate New York’s highest ranking elected official – of his constitutional authority, Senate Democrats unveiled a bipartisan rules reform package that will improve the operation of the Senate and protect the integrity of the Constitution.
 
Last week, without any public notice or input, Senate Republicans threatened to plunge the state into a constitutional crisis by pushing changes to the Senate that usurp the power of Lt. Gov. Duffy and institutionalize the three-men-in-a-room process that is the root of Albany’s problems. To build on last year’s statewide bipartisan review process, Senate Democrats are calling for the immediate passage of rules reform recommendations issued by the bipartisan Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform, and rules reform legislation previously introduced by Senate Republicans.
 
Key among the proposed bipartisan rules changes are:

• Equal staff allocations, resources, and member items for Senators and the development of non-partisan, civil-service based procedures to hire staff in shared service areas;
• Reducing the number of standing committees, and limiting the number of committees on which a Senator may serve to not more than four committees and one subcommittee;
• Changes to the committee hearing process to allow greater access and participation for rank and file members;
• Increased public notification of legislation including but not limited to requiring committee agendas to be submitted one week prior to the scheduled committee meeting;
• Eliminating the ability to vote “aye without recommendation” on each item on a committee agenda; and
• Calling for regional pre-budget hearings to solicit input from various regions in the state.

Senate Democratic Leader John L. Sampson said, “The Senate Republicans’ attempt to strip Lt. Gov. Duffy of his authority is a threat to the integrity of our Constitution and the people of New York. Trampling on our laws and institutionalizing the secretive process that has been the root of Albany’s problems will further block the reforms the public deserves. To create good-paying jobs, reduce the tax burden on the Middle Class, and close the budget gap, we must work across party lines and not against each other.”
 
State Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan) said, “We have a chance to build on the increased transparency and accountability we put in the Senate rules over the last two years.  Unfortunately, we are faced with rules that will trigger a constitutional crisis and undermine the Senate’s ability to tackle the serious issues facing New York in the year to come.  I hope that Senators from both parties can come together to consider the additional rules reforms that Senator Krueger, Senator Serrano, Senator Stewart-Cousins, Senator Bonacic, Senator Flanagan and I have proposed–reforms we can implement together to work toward a more functional state government.”
 
Deputy Democratic Leader Neil D. Breslin (D-Delmar) said, “During the last reapportionment the Senate Republicans increased the number of Senate districts to sixty-two creating a situation where we can have a tie. Now almost ten years later they are trying to strip Lieutenant Governor Duffy, Upstate New York’s highest ranking elected official, of his Constitutional authority. The provisions in the state Constitution regarding the Lt. Governor’s rights are clear and any change to those rights must be made through a constitutional amendment.  Also, last session the Senate Democrats began the process of changing Albany.  We engaged in a bipartisan review process and enacted the most significant rules changes in Senate history to make the Senate more open, inclusive and accountable.  These proposed rules changes by the Senate Republicans stand contradictory to that effort.”
 
Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) said, “Everyone knows who my predecessor was and knows that he epitomized what was wrong with Albany: the chaos, back room deals, closed door meetings and power plays. Like my constituents, I believe that the people of New York want to know what is going on in their government and to know that their elected officials are focused on serving their constituents, not on serving themselves by playing games in Albany. Let us stand together and adopt bipartisan rules recommendations that will make all New Yorkers proud and let us get back to the real business of the Senate: debating how to make New York a safer place, working together to provide our children with the quality education they deserve and finding new and innovative ways to spark job growth.”
 
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF-Westchester) said, “The rules that we are proposing streamline the Senate’s operations, call for more equitable allocation of resources among Senators, and empower rank and file members to better serve their constituents. These are common- sense reforms that Republicans and Democrats agreed upon last Session when we created the Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform. Now, it is time to pass these rules and make our government more transparent, responsive and better able to serve the needs of all New Yorkers.”
 
Senator Mike Gianaris (D-Queens) said, “Rather than fulfill their promise to enact independent redistricting, the Republican first order of business is an attempt to usurp the Constitution and strip upstate’s highest ranking official of his Constitutional powers. There is no clearer indicator that Republicans intend to return to the worst of Albany’s past practices instead of following through on their campaign rhetoric pledging greater bipartisanship and transparency.”
 
Senator Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan/Bronx) said, “Republicans talk a good game about the constitution but they can hardly walk the walk. Last week, Senate Republicans tried to gut the power of the lieutenant governor which is guaranteed by New York State’s constitution. They did so for purely political purposes and without any public input whatsoever. I urge Republicans to put the interests of the public ahead of their partisan power plays and take up the bi-partisan, common sense reforms offered by Democrats.”
 
Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) said, “We’ve heard a lot of talk about changing the way Albany does business. Now is the time to move past rhetoric and enact real rules reform.  Last year we took an important first step in passing much needed reforms, but it simply wasn’t enough. More must be done.  These are reforms that have been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past so there is no reason they shouldn’t have bi-partisan support now.  If my colleagues are serious about following through on the promises they made while campaigning then they should make these changes to the Senate Rules.”
 
Senator Jose Serrano (D-Bronx/Manhattan) said, “The reforms presented here today will help establish a more fair and robust legislative process, as well as protect the integrity of the Constitution. Particularly, the equal allocation of all resources will ensure that certain districts do not continue to benefit at the expense of others. Communities across New York should not receive a divergent amount of resources simply based on the party with which their elected official is affiliated, and we must all work together to find the best ways to distribute the state’s dollars. The bipartisan Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform, of which I am a member, called for the passage of these very recommendations, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support taking this important step toward significant reform within the New York State Senate.”