Assemblyman Kevin Byrne (R,C,Ref- Mahopac) and other members of the Assembly Minority Conference recently presented a set of amendments to bring ethics reform and transparency to New York’s government. Unfortunately, the Assembly Majority blocked the 15 resolutions on Wednesday, January 23. These rules reform proposals include imposing eight-year term limits for the speaker of the Assembly (E.36), committee chairs (E.38), and the majority and minority leaders of the Assembly (E.30).
“It is disappointing to see these amendments blocked in a time where we need transparency and ethics reform for our government more than ever,” said Byrne. “These are simple resolutions that could help our government run more smoothly and in a more fair way to legislators, our staff and our constituents. While the Assembly Majority may have shut us down once again, we will continue to push for these rules reforms until they see this is an absolute necessity. I just hope it comes sooner, rather than later.”
Additional amendments, which were proposed, include offering comparable staff budgets (E.35) and a motion to discharge if a bill or resolution is sponsored by 76 or more members of the Assembly (E.25). Byrne presented a resolution, which would have prevented bills from being pulled from committee agendas once voting has already begun (E.31).