(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Michael Montesano (R,C,I-Glen Head) has joined his Assembly Minority colleagues in sponsoring legislation to increase the transparency of the state budgetary process and ensure that legislative leaders are held more accountable to the public.
“Our conference has long advocated for measures that strengthen and enforce ethics reforms and increase openness and transparency in the budgetary and legislative processes,” said Montesano. “The unilateral, closed-door decision-making cannot and should not continue. We need to allow all legislators and taxpayers to be involved in these processes and shed light on every detail of the budget. This legislation would help us restore the public’s faith in government.”
The legislation is supported by a variety of good government groups throughout the state and would require all legislative earmarks to be clearly outlined within the state budget for members, the public and media to review before being voted on. Notification would be required when the funds are distributed, detailing the purpose of the earmarks, who receives the money, which legislative districts are impacted, and who authorizes the funds.
Earlier this month, members of the Assembly Minority Conference held a press conference to promote the importance of bringing this legislation to the floor for a vote.
