With Voters set to decide in November whether there should be a New York Constitutional Convention to make changes to the State Constitution, Gov. Cuomo has some reservations that differ from what his former Governor father believed.

The Governor during a meeting with the Daily News Editorial Board on Thursday said he ”conceptually supports the idea of a constitutional convention, but quickly added that you have to find a way where the delegates do not wind up being the same legislators who you are trying to change the rules on. I have not heard a plan that does that."

“The theory of the constitutional convention is just good people come in and they're the delegates,” he continued. “The way it will work is you'll probably elect assemblymen and senators as delegates. And the unions will probably fund the campaigns. And you may make the situation worse, not better.”

Cuomo’ late father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, was a big supporter of the idea of Constitutional Conventions and in 1997 rejected fears it would be controlled by the old boys network. “Everyone says the old legislators will get in,” he told the Village Voice. “So don’t vote for them, schlemiels. The people will be involved in every step of the process.”

The last Constitutional Convention was in 1967. Voters rejected the idea the last time they had the chance in 1997.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie opposes the idea of a Constitutional Convention while a number of Government Reform Groups see it as the best chance to enact Ethics and other Reforms. A source close to Heastie expressed concerns that Worker Protections won over decades could be reversed by Anti-Union forces at a Constitutional Convention.

A Senate GOP spokesman couldn't say whether Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) supports a Constitutional Convention.

But Assembly Republican Minority Leader Brian Kolb does. "One of the many lessons I’ve learned in Albany is this: when those who have harvested most of the power oppose an idea, it’s probably something worth considering," Kolb said in a statement late last week. "We see a prime example of this on the issue of a constitutional convention." "A constitutional convention is a mechanism to change the laws that govern the State of New York," he said. "So it’s no surprise that those enjoying the spoils of the status quo – legislative majorities and high-powered special interests – oppose the idea of shaking things up. They are protecting the status quo by using fear and scare tactics to undermine a movement for positive change to our state government. But, we cannot be deterred or intimidated." Citing scandals that have hit the Cuomo Administration and Top Legislative Leaders in recent years, Kolb argued that Albany's "muted response" is evidence that "the system isn't going to change from within." "But, through a Constitutional Convention, the people can force action that lawmakers are unwilling to take," he said. Besides Ethics Reforms, a Constitutional Convention can give the Public a direct say in how their tax dollars are spent, how to make the budget process more transparent, and how to meet the state's healthcare needs, Kolb said.

Cuomo recently proposed Constitutional Amendments to put the Provisions of Roe v. Wade into the Constitution and to impose Legislative Term Limits and a Limit on Outside Income for Legislators.

But Cuomo wants the Amendments to go through the regular Process of having two successive Legislatures approve the Amendment before putting the matter up for a Public Referendum, not as part of a Constitutional Convention, his Aides have said.

In order to have a Constitutional Convention, Voters would have to approve of the idea in November and then Elect a slate of Delegates in 2018. Any proposed changes that would come out of a Convention in 2019 would then have to be approved by the Public.

Cuomo a year ago had proposed spending $1 million on a Commission to deliver into the idea of a Constitutional Convention, but the proposed allocation did not make the final State Budget. This year, Cuomo has not called for any money to be directed for the purposes of a Constitutional Convention.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker