Five years ago, the Brennan Center at NYU called New York’s Legislature the “most dysfunctional” legislature in America.   This report was widely reported throughout the state.  Business leaders read it.  Labor leaders read it.  Voters and politicians read it and nothing changed. Statewide elections came and went. Candidates quoted the report and . . . nothing changed.

In fact things got worse. The 2009 budget process was the most secretive in history and resulted in huge, irresponsible tax increases on New Yorkers at a time when they already faced remarkable economic conditions.

Yesterday, in the New York State Senate for the first time since that report was passed, something happened.  Something changed. Reform has come to the New York State Senate.  I’m proud of the part that Responsible New York and I played in this change.

The reforms are both sweeping and meaningful.  They range from term limits for the Majority Leader and Committee Chairs to an independent Budget Office to a true C-SPAN type network with access for independent groups to critique and criticize leadership as well as many more substantive changes.   Overall, these reforms will make the Senate more democratic, encourage new and better ideas and actually involve all 62 senators in governing.  Overdue. 

These reforms languished for years when Republicans controlled the Senate and continued to be delayed after Democrats took control of the Senate.  That these reforms passed after years of failure was remarkable.  How they passed was truly revolutionary.

These reforms were passed by a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans who put the people above partisan politics.  Amazing.

As with any true reform, not everyone is happy.  When the process of changing the Senate began it was met by attempts to close down the motion, a failed attempt to adjourn, the shut down of lights, the cessation of the live video feed and finally an attempt to get State Troopers to clear the room.  These were disappointing reactions to the will of 32 democratically elected senators finally doing the right thing.  Any other subsequent legal action will be nothing but a distraction from doing the people’s business.

It is truly ironic that the Governor would object to wealthy donors being involved in this process while at the same time raising money at $100,000 per table fundraisers.

Responsible New York was founded to fight for reform without regard to party.   We did that by helping to bring together an historical coalition that passed remarkable reforms.  Of course, this coalition is fragile and there are strong special interests pushing back to protect the status quo.  Responsible New York will make sure that these reforms materialize and will continue our fight for fiscal restraint in Albany.

New York has the highest rate of migration out of state in the nation.  In fact, people are leaving New York at a rate that is 50% higher than Massachusetts with the second highest rate.  When more people are leaving than coming in, even politicians should recognize something is wrong.  This is a first step—a small but important step—in changing that.

After the headlines and sensational reporting about control and legislative maneuvering there are to key things that happened:

  • The New York State Senate now has a bi-partisan government unique in our history for putting ideas above partisanship.
  • This coalition already delivered real reform that promotes democracy, encouraging new and smarter ideas and an opportunity to change New York.

Together, this has a real chance to break the political stranglehold that special interests have in Albany.  These changes are revolutionary by Albany standards but only, in truth, a beginning but it is a beginning that may lead to a more responsive government.

One important concrete change is that with these rules reforms and coalition government all 62 senators will play a role in negotiating the next budget.  That means in one fell swoop one of the infamous “three men in the room” is gone. Who’s next?  Hopefully there are some members of the State Assembly who are willing to put reform above party and the people above politics.