Comments on: Ethics Reform In Albany, New York

By: John Tedder

John Tedder — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:43:39 +0000

Thanks for commenting Daniel. I didn’t know about the $140 per day, tax free “beer money.” Wow. How do we get from what we have to what you describe?

By: Daniel Tagliento

Daniel Tagliento — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:22:08 +0000

It’s beyond Wake Up time!
Candidates for New York State Assembly and Senate must be found! That would mean approaching individuals, you know, trust and admire and asking if they would consider running for one of these offices! The “Part Time” salaries ($79 thousands +++)in addition to the Tax Free per diem (better
understood as Beer Money) of
say $140.00 paid each day their respective houses are in session, *plus offices to operate their business (both
Ours and their own) at either
the Capitol or the Legislative Office Building as well as a office or offices back home in the District are simply not being earned, meaning we are being
gipped!
Citizen Legislatures are comprised of intelligent and aware people temporarily putting aside their avocation or interests for a measured amount of time and focussing
on the Common Good! Then returning to their own private life. This is not a Lifetime Position which inevitably is assumed by unfortunately both parties, the politican and the voters!

There in lies the root of the Mess we are all in, the elected elects all the benefits befitting his or her opinion of their self-worth, according to their own ego!

It ain’t a Toss Up Question
It where We find ourselves and We have to Do something about it!

By: Whybother

Whybother — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:08:21 +0000

Random thoughts;

Common Cause is a great starting point for the reform discussion.

Unless there is specific language within the Law or the State Consitution that says otherwise I would think it to be quite difficult to tell Senators and Assembly members that they can’t have a 2nd job when every other free American can hold down 2 or more jobs – (of course those people can be fired from their various jobs if they aren’t performing while the elected officials are pretty much teflon…which is another problem altogether…but I digress…).

I believe that a number of states draw up their districts in a similar manner. It’s just plain stupid.

I’d be cool with 4 terms of two years. Give you a little carry over when a new Governor is elected…