From The Desk Of Brian Kolb

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) today launched an on-line grassroots petition to continue building statewide, bi-partisan support for a "People's Convention to Reform New York."  Kolb's petition for a People's Convention to Reform New York is available on-line at www.reformny.org.

"As noted in two separate polls, a majority of voters are strongly in favor of holding a People's Convention to Reform New York - my on-line petition seeks to keep this momentum going," Kolb said, referring to recent Quinnipiac University Polling Institute and Siena College Research Institute surveys showing 64 and 63 percent of voters supporting the reform effort.  The Quinnipiac University Poll is accessible here.  The Siena College Research Institute Poll is available here.

"The sheer enormity of the fiscal and governmental challenges facing our state require bold action - a People's Convention to Reform New York would deliver much-needed change to a dysfunctional system where special interests and political insiders collude to block any efforts to increase accountability and transparency in our State Legislature," Kolb stated.

Kolb has publicly called on elected officials and registered lobbyists to not run as delegates, or serve in the People's Convention to Reform New York.

"The People's Convention to Reform New York cannot be driven by the political insiders and special interests that helped create the problems facing our state.  This effort must be undertaken by New Yorkers who are fed up with Albany's status quo, ready to make change and prepared to take their government back by supporting real solutions like a People's Convention to Reform New York.  It begins by signing my on-line petition," Kolb concluded.

Kolb said that the People's Convention to Reform New York would consider reforms including a state spending and a real property tax cap; debt reform and banning backdoor borrowing; requiring a 2/3 "Super Majority" for tax increases; allowing for recall of state elected officials; enacting initiative and referendum; requiring term limits for Legislative Leaders; enacting non-partisan redistricting reform and establishing a procedure to fill vacancies in statewide offices and New York's U.S. Senate Seats.