Recent legislation in Albany to end printing hard copies of legislation and go to electronic versions will make no difference for good government advocates. Until members of the state Assembly and Senate take the time to actually read each bill on paper or electronically the status quo will continue.
They will at the end of every session receive proposed legislation and budgets with only hours before being asked to vote up or down. Only lobbyists, key staff members employed by the Senate and Assembly majority leadership teams who actually wrote the fine print within the hundreds to several thousand pages on behalf of Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority leader Dean Skelos have any idea of the details buried in the actual contents.
Real reform would honor requirements in the state constitution that they wait three days before voting. This would provide adequate time for members, but also ordinary citizens, the media and independent good government watchdog groups the opportunity to understand all of the contents contained in any proposed bill.
Everyone would also have the opportunity under an open process to comment and discuss the merits or consequences before others vote up or down for adoption.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
