Many people are unhappy with state government these days. I can understand why. I’m not happy, either. Sharp partisan divisions and narrow special interest politics have often paralyzed and corrupted the legislative process. To get ourselves out of this mess, we need to change the culture in Albany. We need to build a new and better state government, one that is committed to and capable of meeting the challenges and opportunities of our time.
This won’t be easy to accomplish. But if there ever was a time for us to “rise to the occasion,” it’s now -regardless of the political consequences. We’re facing a monumental budget deficit with no easy solution. The irrefutable fact is that state government can no longer function the way it once did. Legislators must make difficult decisions now in order to ensure a sustainable future.
Some would argue that we’ve been flirting with disaster for years. The collapse of Wall Street exposed our reliance on the financial industry for more than 20 percent of the state’s revenues. A dramatic drop in sales tax receipts and personal income taxes, along with the state’s risky fiscal practices, caused unprecedented budget deficits. But there is opportunity in this crisis. It’s creating an opening for us to look seriously at consolidating agencies, and to deal with a host of long-standing problems – such as the state’s use of private consultants for routine activities, unnecessary layers of administrative bureaucracy, funding for programs that have outlived their effectiveness, and backroom deals that corrupt the process.
Last month, the Legislature finally passed Public Authorities reform, which will improve the oversight of authority operations. More reforms are obviously needed. I’ll continue advocating for campaign finance and ethics reform, along with a bill to create an independent redistricting commission. I’ll also challenge our approach to economic development, which routinely leaves our best innovations stuck in a “valley of death,” unable to move toward commercialization and manufacturing.
My 2010 legislative agenda will also include an aggressive review of the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the resources that they and the Public Service Commission will need in their role of overseeing natural gas drilling. I plan to better coordinate economic development efforts with other upstate colleagues, along with advocating for local road, bridge and other infrastructure projects. Health care and education will remain top priorities.
No single legislator can restore people’s confidence in state government, especially when corrupt individuals continue to violate ethical standards, and serve narrow special interests instead of the broader public interest. But there are things individual legislators can and should do to improve the situation. I’ll continue to listen closely to my constituents, respond to their concerns, and challenge business as usual in ways that will actually make a difference. That’s what I’ve been trying to do, and that’s what I pledge to continue to do during the difficult year ahead.
(This Guest Viewpoint was published in the Press & Sun-Bulletin on January 3, 2010)
Tags: Reform