Pledge for Change

It's Time to Make Albany Work for the People

 

If elected I pledge to be a force for change in Albany, working in my house and my party caucus for legislation and rules changes which would:

 

 

• Restore the Public’s Trust

Ensure that ethics, lobbying and campaign finance watchdogs are independent and powerful.

End the practice of legislators drawing their own district lines during the redistricting process.

Provide fairness in allocating legislative resources and “member items,” and amend the legislature’s rules to create a more open and accountable body.

 

•  Reform the State’s Finances

Close obsolete public authorities through the creation of a “base closing commission,” which would review all authorities and close down obsolete ones.

Establish an independent fiscal watchdog, along the lines of the Congressional Budget Office.

Open up the government’s budget books and put them on-line, greatly expanding the amount of available information beyond the Comptroller’s “Open Book New York.”

           

• Curb the Power of Special Interests

End “pay to play” for lobbyists and seekers – and receivers – of government contracts by dramatically lowering contribution limits for such donors.

Require public disclosure of “independent” campaign contributions and close loopholes, such as ones that allow donations by LLCs to be treated as if they were contributions from individuals.

Bolster the role of small donors in the campaign finance system. For example, a system of public financing enhances the role of small donors.

 

 * Download The Pledge for Change in PDF.