WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY. By State Assemblyman Adam T. Braldey. December 24, 2005: The 2005 legislative session began a process of substantial reform in Albany. Meeting in open conference committees, the Assembly and Senate delivered the first on-time budget in two decades and the Assembly passed several important new laws to improve the way Albany does business. While there is still more work to be done, this year’s accomplishments were a good beginning.

In an effort to make Assembly proceedings more efficient and open, two rounds of rules changes were passed this year. These bipartisan reforms helped make the legislative process stronger by effectively ending empty seat voting; increasing debate; creating a streamline review of the budget; helping rank-and-file members advance legislation; and strengthening the standing committee process.  We need to build on these improvements by providing unedited gavel-to-gavel television coverage of legislative sessions on local cable channels across the state, much like C-SPAN does for Congress.

Cracking down on procurement lobbying

Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent each year on lobbying for state and local government contracts, but for years there was little or no oversight of the behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts. A new law passed this year increased accountability and scrutiny on how contracts are awarded (Ch. 1 of 2005). This bill closes lobbying loopholes and helps assure taxpayers that their money is being spent on legitimate and cost-effective projects.

Previous lobbyists were not required to disclose procurement lobbying activities. The reform law expands the definition of lobbying to include any effort to influence the action of public officials regarding procurement of commodities, services, construction and the sale or purchase of land. The definition also includes the adoption or content of an executive order, a municipal resolution and tribal-state compacts. 

Penalties for lobbyists who violate the restricted contact period include possible debarment from procurement lobbying, and up to a $50,000 civil penalty if the lobbyist lobbies on procurement contracts during a period of debarment. Vendors are in jeopardy of losing their contracts as well as possible debarment for violations of these new measures.

Reforming New York’s public authorities

Scandals and fiscal mismanagement have plagued New York’s public authorities. The Assembly passed legislation, which I sponsored, to improve oversight of the state’s nearly 900 public authorities- including the MTA- and public benefit corporations that operate largely without public scrutiny. Authorities need to be reined in and made accountable.  This legislation (A.9007) will do so by making sure watchdogs pay close attention to ethics and spending.

These reform measures will increase accountability, improve public authority operations and ultimately save tax dollars. The Assembly has taken the lead in making sure that these so-called shadow governments are brought out into the open, and now we need the governor to sign this measure into law and put these reforms into effect.

Reforming the state budget process

Although voters ultimately voted down a constitutional amendment to reform New York’s budget process, I will continue working toward a bipartisan compromise that the public will support.

I believe any budget reform legislation must include efforts to:

·        implement a contingency budget if one is not passed by the deadline;

·        require a two-year appropriation for education aid, helping schools stay a step ahead by finally giving them the information they need, when they need it; and

·        create an independent budget office to provide nonpartisan revenue numbers.

Reforming state government will continue

While we must continue working to reform the budget process, we must also ensure delivery of another on time budget.  I vow to work hard to continue making New York government more open and efficient.

Adam Bradley

Assemblyman 89th District (White Plains)