As a result, the underrepresented have long sought an answer to the "three men in a room" dilemma... And we may have found one - the "Five Senators in Upstate." The truth of the matter is that with a slim 32-30 majority in the State Senate, nothing can get done without the support of five Upstate senators - our own Bill Stachowski and Antoine Thompson, in addition to David Valesky (Syracuse), Darrel Aubertine (Watertown) and Neil Breslin (Albany). That gives them an awful lot of influence - if they choose to use it.
They didn't of course, in the passage of January's Deficit Reduction Package, which whacked Upstate business and personal taxpayers with new health insurance taxes and the "sweep" of NY Power Authority funds (the Buffalo News Donn Esmonde today asked where our Upstate leadership was in this decision). That being the case, there are now budget proposals on the table that are devastating to employers in Upstate New York, and we will be leaning heavily on our group of five senators to exert their influence in protecting us from:
- The proposed $650 million assessment on energy and telecommunications;
- Additional health insurance taxes and assessments;
- Any increase in personal income taxes, particularly on small business owners.
Now's the time, too - the New York Post says the hurt is on its way.
1 comment:
What about a NYS Constitutional Convention?
It is my understanding that the last one we had was in 1938. The NYS voters in 1979 elected not to hold a NYS Constitutional Convention. I bet that their attitude would be different today.
My belief is that NYS government, starting at the State level, and flowing down to the local level, must create a new model just as businesses do to stay effective, efficient and competitive. Change is required when the old model no longer works. There is no disagreement about the dysfunctional model of NYS government.
I understand that to have a CC, its somewhat of an arduous process. Delegates must be elected (how do you restrict lobbyists, politicians (active and aspiring], and special interest groups) from getting control of the CC and/or delegates? Delegates meet for 1-year? Their recommendations are then presented to the public? The NYS legislature must act on the recommendations? Questions, questions, questions......
I believe that the real answer to NYS change is in the CC, and not in the periodic elections. Newly elected individuals do not have any seniority; therefore, no power to effectuate change. And when they may finally do some day, they have been changed by the process in getting there.
Also, how does reducing town boards reduce the cost of government? In the case of Amherst, reducing the Town Board by 2, only reduces direct cost by about $50,000 (salaries for 2). Presuming 50% overhead for estimated benefits, totals $100,000 on a town budget that exceed $117-million. What is the real net effect to the property owner? Perhaps less than $1./year for reduced representation, and more power concentrated in fewer board members?
The real cost is the overall support structure that may be needed to deliver the services that residents want. And, since education represents approximately >55% of one’s total property tax bill, shouldn’t this be a focus for change and consolidation?
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