http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/briankolb/ 129th Assembly District - State of New York en-us Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:59:16 GMT CakePHP http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/briankolb/broken-state-government-has-embarassed-new-yorkers-long-enough/ Since August of 2009, in my travels all across our state as Leader of the Assembly Republican Conference, I have been asking my fellow New Yorkers the following question: “Is state government working for you?” Nearly everywhere I go – from Western New York to New York City – the answer to that question is an overwhelming “No!” Now, according to findings from a new public opinion poll, it seems as if I may need to start asking a different question instead. That question is: “Are you embarrassed by New York State’s broken government?” If so, you are certainly not alone, as a recent Siena Research Institute Poll reported that a majority of residents are now “embarrassed” to call themselves New Yorkers, largely due to a broken, unresponsive state government. MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS “EMBARRASSED” BY STATE GOVERNMENT The Siena Poll – released on March 8, 2010 – found that by a margin of 54 percent to 41 percent, a majority of residents were embarrassed to call themselves New Yorkers largely due to all the allegations and scandals occurring in Albany. The Siena Poll also found that 70 percent of respondents agreed with the following statement: “New York State government has never been more dysfunctional than it is today.” Considering it was just a few years ago the state’s budget was late for 20 consecutive years, that is quite a statement! The Siena Poll findings are available for review at the following website: www.siena.edu/sri. Sadly, years of scandal, allegations, hyper-partisanship and fiscal irresponsibility have led many New Yorkers to abandon any hope that state government is able to meet serious challenges and put the people’s business first. The recent weeks of turmoil in Albany and the legislative paralysis left in its wake – despite the state budget being due in three weeks – have only re-affirmed that sentiment. For too long, both Democrats and Republicans have run promising “change,” only to perpetuate a broken, unresponsive status quo in state government. That “status quo” has to go. The Siena Poll findings mean there are likely millions of taxpayers who are tired of broken government and want to see real change, top to bottom. What they do not want is more rhetoric or talk of change, but genuine action, follow-through and real solutions. I believe the Siena Poll findings demonstrate the urgent need for the types of real, non-partisan change that a “People’s Convention to Reform New York” could successfully deliver. A “PEOPLE’S CONVENTION” COULD DELIVER THE REAL CHANGE NY NEEDS The institution of state government itself is in need of a major overhaul or we will never see the change New Yorkers have been calling for, year after year. If learning that 54 percent of state residents are embarrassed to be New Yorkers does not convince elected officials of both parties, in all branches of state government, that we need to convene a non-partisan, grassroots “People’s Convention,” frankly, I am unsure what will. In my view, the poll findings are confirmation, not a revelation, of the need for a systemic change in how state government operates. In order to achieve that change, last year, I introduced “The People’s Convention to Reform New York Act,” Assembly Bill A.9157. This non-partisan legislation has the support of 35 Assembly Members and 47 municipalities from all across the state. The on-line petition in support of the “People’s Convention,” www.reformny.org, has received nearly 2,000 signatures and more names get added each day. A “People’s Convention” would put the power to achieve long overdue fiscal and governmental reforms such as a property tax and state spending cap, initiative and referendum, an independent Legislative Redistricting Commission, term limits for Legislative Leaders and legislators and a succession plan for state offices in the people’s hands. TOWN HALL MEETING DEMONSTRATED PEOPLE BELIEVE CHANGE IS POSSIBLE A few weeks ago, I joined my Assembly colleagues Jane Corwin, Joseph Giglio, Steve Hawley and Jack Quinn to host a Town Hall Meeting on the topic of a “People’s Convention.” Our meeting was held in the Town of Hamburg on a chilly February night – and over 200 local taxpayers attended! These people were definitely not embarrassed to be New Yorkers – far from it. They were everyday citizens with an extraordinary belief that it is possible to fix state government and that a “People’s Convention to Reform New York” could be our last, best hope to do so. Take pride in New York and help us deliver the real change state government needs by supporting a “People’s Convention.” As always, constituents wishing to discuss this topic, or any other state-related matter, should contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and informational updates regarding state government and our Assembly Republican Conference. Sat, Mar 13th 2010, 06:35 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/briankolb/27-days-until-new-york-state-s-budget-deadline/ 27 days and counting – even less by the time this weekly legislative column is published – until New York’s April 1 fiscal deadline when the 2010-11 State Budget is due. With that looming deadline fast approaching, I believe that all 212 legislators and Governor David Paterson need to get back to work on the budget and focus on deliberations, not distractions. The “distractions” I refer to are the allegations recently lodged against the Governor and a member of his staff. While that matter is investigated and certain politicians in Albany pontificate on every latest twist and turn, New York’s budget deadline moves another day closer without any substantive progress. The reality is that we live in the age of an inescapable 24/7 media cycle that places a premium on conflict and controversy over substance and real solutions. As such, the allegations concerning the Governor, along with the ensuing media firestorm, have made achieving any tangible progress on the 2010-11 State Budget extremely difficult, if not impossible. However, despite the backdrop, I believe that taxpayers want us to get back to work on the primary responsibility for all 212 legislators and the Governor alike: passing the State’s Budget and doing so by New York’s April 1 fiscal deadline. That is what the people deserve, what they should expect and what we must deliver. What we cannot do is go back to the bad old days, when New York’s budget was routinely late – during one embarrassing stretch, it was late for 20 consecutive years – or decided in virtual secrecy the way last year’s bad budget was. In an effort to jumpstart budget deliberations and achieve a fiscally responsible, on time spending plan, on Thursday I announced our Assembly Republican Conference’s appointments to the Joint Budget Conference Committee. As required under the Budget Reform Act of 2007, the Legislature is directed to utilize Conference Committees among the Assembly and Senate to organize budgetary deliberations, set priorities and reach timely agreement on a state spending plan. In the past, Conference Committees have been used to great effect to move public budget negotiations forward and break the cycle of three-men-in-a-room that was previously utilized to decide the state’s budget. My goal was to help move the budget process forward and refocus legislators and the media on what truly matters: adopting a timely fiscal blueprint that will help New York navigate the perfect financial storm. Our conferees will advocate for a fiscally responsible budget that supports private sector job creation, delivers real tax relief and reduces government spending. These are our priorities and what we believe the State Budget should reflect. With only 27 days remaining before the budget is due, and a projected two-year budget deficit of $9.05 billion needing closure, we cannot afford to waste a single day. At a public Legislative Leaders’ meeting on Wednesday, I reminded the Governor and my colleagues that last fall, our Conference had offered a series of budgetary savings proposals and stood ready to work in a non-partisan fashion for a budget that meets our economic challenges and puts New Yorkers back to work. I will continue to keep you updated on any new developments on the budget front. CAYUGA COUNTY TOWN HALL MEETINGS NEXT SATURDAY So far, my 2010 Town Hall Meetings have been a huge success, as every community forum was well attended and featured great questions from local taxpayers who asked about the 2010-11 State Budget, how we can fix our economy and grow the private sector. Next Saturday, March 13, I will bring my 2010 Town Hall Meetings to Cayuga County, stopping in the Towns of Moravia, Auburn and Montezuma. Specific times and locations for our upcoming Town Hall Meetings across Cayuga County are listed below – if you have a free moment, stop by and say hello! CAYUGA COUNTY TOWN HALL MEETINGS: SATURDAY, MARCH 13 10:00 – 10:45 am, at Powers Library, 29 Church Street, Moravia 11:15 am – Noon, at the Owasco Town Hall, 2 Bristol Avenue, Auburn12:30 – 1:15 pm, at the Montezuma Town Hall, 52 Dock Street, Montezuma As always, constituents wishing to discuss this topic, or any other state-related matter, should contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and informational updates regarding state government and our Assembly Republican Conference. Mon, Mar 8th 2010, 04:30 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/briankolb/storm-clouds-gather-in-new-york-s-financial-future/ On Wednesday, in accordance with State Finance Law, our Assembly Republican Conference publicly released its Consensus State Revenue Forecast, a comprehensive document that includes projections of state revenues, New York's budget deficit and the overall condition of our economy. It is called a "consensus" forecast because if Legislative Leaders - myself, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos and Senate Majority Conference Leader John Sampson - and Governor Paterson cannot reach agreement on available revenues by March 1, 2010 then the State Comptroller would be required to issue a binding revenue forecast by March 5, 2010. FORECAST CALLS FOR A STORMY FINANCIAL FUTURE Our forecast indicated that years of fiscally irresponsible policies, government overspending, the prolonged economic downturn and a sharp drop-off in state tax revenues have fueled an explosive growth in New York's two-year budget gap. Specifically, we projected $884 million less than Governor David Paterson's projection in General Funds Tax Receipts, and $1.35 billion less than the Governor's projection in All Funds Tax Receipts. "General Funds Tax Receipts" refer to those tax receipts deposited into the state's General Fund and utilized to finance state operations. "All Funds Tax Receipts" include those tax receipts that go to the General Fund and all other dedicated funds (i.e., mass transportation funds). The forecast - driven by various national and state economic indicators - took into account not only New York's poor economy, but also Governor Paterson's 2010-11 Executive Budget. With all these factors accounted for, our Assembly Republican Ways and Means Committee forecasted a two-year General Fund budget deficit of $9.05 billion, compared to the Governor's forecasted budget deficit of $8.2 billion. FORECAST FOR NY'S ECONOMY: A SLOW-MOVING RECOVERY On the issue of the economy, our forecast indicated that while a recovery has already begun for much of the United States, here in New York, we would not see a substantial economic resurgence until the middle of 2010, at the earliest. That is bad news for the more than 800,000 New Yorkers who are out of work. It is also why I continue calling for a comprehensive statewide job creation plan to rebuild New York's private sector and put people back to work as quickly as possible. Getting our economy moving again must be job one. In developing this forecast, our Assembly GOP Ways and Means Committee utilized the Washington University Macro Model of the United States economy, developed and maintained by Macroeconomic Advisers, LLC, and reports on the U.S. economy, also prepared by Macroeconomic Advisers. Our Committee also utilized New York State economic data and forecasts from www.economy.com to supplement the Committee's in-house model of New York State's economy. Simply put, we did our homework. In fact, our Conference's revenue forecasts are typically the most accurate. ALBANY MUST REDUCE SPENDING As our forecast projected, New York's fiscal outlook has gone from bad to worse. This should not come as a surprise: last year our entire Assembly Republican Conference voted against the 2009-10 State Budget because it contained too much spending, too many taxes and not nearly enough reform. Back on March 31 of 2009, right after the budget passed, I publicly said it would do further harm to already struggling middle-class families and job-creating businesses. It has. That bad budget also set the stage for this latest growth of the New York's budget deficit. The answer to the state's fiscal crisis and growing budget shortfall is not raising taxes on hard-working families or delaying taxpayer refunds as Governor Paterson is currently considering. Instead, we need to focus on shrinking the size of state government by reducing spending - not controlling, but actually reducing it. Reducing spending is the first step toward "starving the beast" that state government has regrettably become. New Yorkers already swamped from a perfect financial storm caused by recession, an underperforming economy, reckless government overspending and some of the highest taxes in our nation are hurting like never before. That perfect financial storm has caused real pain for real New Yorkers. If all 212 legislators and the Governor could set aside partisan politics and work toward real solutions to help create private sector jobs, reduce taxes and reform state government, future financial forecasts for the Empire State would show brighter days ahead. Mon, Mar 1st 2010, 07:00 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/briankolb/that-tax-refund-check-may-not-be-in-the-mail/ According to the Internal Revenue Service's official website, right around this time in 2009, it had already received approximately 56 million individual tax returns, which constituted a moderate increase over the previous year. Many media outlets are already reporting that, largely due to the prolonged recession, more people than ever will be filing, or have filed, their taxes early in the hopes of getting a refund sooner and avoiding the inevitable last minute rush in the lead up to April 15. If you are one of the millions of New Yorkers who has already filed their taxes in anticipation of getting a timely state refund, get ready for some potentially frustrating news. You might be waiting awhile for that check because Governor David Paterson is actually considering a delay in sending out taxpayer refunds due to the state's ongoing cash crunch. Yes, you read that correctly. Your state government is actually contemplating a policy where it would hang onto your money longer than necessary because it has been unwilling and unable to get its financial house in order. Have you had enough yet? THE "NICKEL AND DIMING" OF NEW YORKERS State government's inexplicable decision to even entertain the ridiculous notion of withholding taxpayer refunds - also known as your money - will only cause more financial pain to individuals and small businesses who were counting on getting their money back. It is the latest infuriating case of what I call the perpetual "nickel and diming" of New Yorkers and it needs to stop. Over the past few weeks, I have told you all about the over $1 billion in new taxes, fees and surcharges within the Governor's 2010-11 Executive Budget. This would be $1 billion on top of the $8.2 billion in taxes and fees imposed by last year's budget. I also wrote about how the Governor's current spending plan would cost the typical New York family of four more than $1,800 annually through higher taxes on everything from soda and sports drinks to health care. Now, piled on top of all these crushing costs, is state government's consideration of a plan to delay rightful tax refunds, money that belongs to taxpayers in the first place! STATE GOVERNMENT MUST STOP PENALIZING NEW YORKERS WHO DO THE RIGHT THING People who submitted their tax returns in advance should have a reasonable expectation of receiving a timely refund. However, instead of getting your money back, state government is hatching a scheme to hold onto it until April - and possibly longer. Taxpayers who played by the rules should not be penalized because for decades state government failed to manage its finances and cash flow. Bottom line? State government has to stop penalizing New Yorkers who do the right thing. Governor Paterson needs to put an immediate stop to any consideration of such an absurd public policy and ensure New York taxpayers do not have to wait to get their money back. TELL GOVERNOR PATERSON: DON'T DELAY OUR REFUNDS! Folks, a tax refund is your money, plain and simple. State government should not be allowed to simply sit on it for months because it is unable to make tough decisions and balance the budget. I don't want you to get mad - I want you to give those in state government responsible for considering this absurdity a piece of your mind! Accordingly, if you already filed your taxes and are expecting a refund, contact Governor David Paterson and let him know it's your money - not state government's - and that you want it back. Below is a web address and phone number so you can express your concerns directly. If you think contacting state government is a waste of time, think again - your phone calls and e-mails have a profound impact on the policy process. I have said it before and I will say it again: when the people speak loudly, Albany listens closely. HOW TO CONTACT GOVERNOR PATERSON 1.) Go to www.state.ny.us/governor2.) On the left side is a section titled "Contact the Governor" - click that 3.) This will take you to a page where you can submit your concerns directly via e-mail 4.) You can also call the Governor at (518) 474-8390 As always, constituents wishing to discuss this topic, or any other state-related matter, should contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and informational updates regarding state government and our Assembly Republican Conference. Mon, Feb 22nd 2010, 04:41 GMT http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/briankolb/media-coverage-of-the-people-s-convention-to-reform-new-york/ A collection of media coverage on Leader Brian Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) and the Assembly Republican Conference’s Town Hall Meetings on the People’s Convention to Reform New York. Last evening, a meeting in Hamburg attracted 200 taxpayers, as noted by the Buffalo News article below. The People’s Convention to Reform New York is a grassroots, non-partisan reform effort to empower citizens so they can take back their state government and, in the process, chart a positive, new direction for New York. ‘People’s Convention’ for state is pushed Buffalo News – Harold McNeil http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/962114.html Ordinary citizens who are currently unelected to any public office may hold the keys to making state government run better, according to five Republican members of the Assembly who are pushing for "A People's Convention to Reform New York Act." To that end, they shared details of the legislation with about 200 local residents who came Thursday night to the auditorium of Union Pleasant Avenue Elementary School in Hamburg. Will A Constitutional Convention Bring Real Change To Albany? WGRZ-TV Video:http://www.wgrz.com/video/default.aspx?aid=59274#/Local/021810%2DCONVENTION%2DBB.mp4/51961257001/51330383001/67384473001 Story: http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=74611&catid=13 Some republican members of the state assembly say the only way to get real reform in Albany is through a constitutional convention. That was the topic of conversation Thursday night at an open house in Hamburg. State Constitutional Convention Pushed in Hamburg WNED-AM 970 – Mike Desmond http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1614274/WNED-AM.970.NEWS/State.Constitutional.Convention.Pushed.in.Hamburg State Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb brought his push for a state Constitutional Convention to Hamburg last night. The goal is to pass legislation this year, elect delegates next year and hold the convention in 2012. Constitutional convention in NY alluring, problematic Times Herald Record - Terra Thompson http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100208/NEWS/2080319 Fixing property taxes and education in New York is an uphill battle, but a constitutional convention might provide a solution — if citizens take the reins. "The people don't feel the legislators are working for them because [Albany] is so backlogged," Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb said Tuesday at the town community center. Don’t fear democracy Daily Freeman Editorial http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/02/10/opinion/doc4b707f1e25436699712456.txt One participant in the forum was Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, who has been among the most prominent of current political leaders pushing for a constitutional convention. He argued last week that the state Legislature is incapable of reforming itself. Assemblymen debate push for constitutional convention Daily Freeman - William J. Kemble http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/02/03/news/doc4b6906516ca9a217566071.txt Opposing sides of a debate over a proposal for an early state constitutional convention met midway between their Assembly districts Tuesday to discuss a proposal to let voters decide the matter on the November ballot. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, came 70 miles south, seeking support for state Assembly bill A9157. A People’s Convention Batavia Daily News Editorial http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2010/02/13/opinion/editorials/doc4b75b398f3ff3156475987.txt A cap on property tax. And a cap on state spending. Term limits for legislative leaders. An end to unfunded mandates. A ban on “back-door” borrowing. Initiative and referendum. Independent legislative redistricting. If these and other reforms sound good to you — and they should — you need to get yourself to a “Town Hall” meeting Feb. 18 in Hamburg and throw your support behind the People’s Convention to Reform New York Act (Assembly Bill A.9157). Kolb takes questions at town hall meeting in Canandaigua Messenger Post – Philip Anselmo http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x295636266/Kolb-takes-questions-at-town-hall-meeting-in-Canandaigua "Obviously, there's no shortage of issues facing us in Albany," said Kolb, who took questions for about an hour on such issues as education, taxes, jobs and the assemblyman's own pet project, the People's Convention to Reform New York. Fri, Feb 19th 2010, 11:34 GMT