NY Reform
The Brennan Center's flagship issue in New York is legislative reform. In 2004, the Center released a landmark report documenting in detail the pervasive dysfunction in New York's legislative process and offering a blueprint for reform. Our 2006 update detailed the reforms made by the Senate and Assembly in 2005 and concluded that the broken legislative process has not been substantially fixed by either chamber. The report recommended strengthening the committee process; ending the stranglehold leadership has over bills getting to the floor, institutionalizing the use of conference committees, and ending leadership control over resources and staff.We also work toward reform in the areas of campaign finance and redistricting in New York. In 2006, the Brennan Center released Paper Thin, a report that revealed the glaring weaknesses in the state's campaign finance laws. Our attorneys partner with elected officials and allies to draft and advocate legislation that would place meaningful restrictions on the flow of money into New York's campaigns, with the ultimate goal of moving toward public financing. Brennan Center staff has also done research and testified to legislative committees on the need for a fair and meaningfully independent redistricting process.
In 2006, the Center led a coalition of civic groups urging Governor Pataki and legislative leaders to embrace a package of eight lobbying and ethics reforms. The coalition released an analysis of New York's laws regulating this area, with a set of proposed reforms crafted into a model bill.
ReformNY
The Brennan Center for Justice has long maintained a blog for all our NY State reform news. Click here to read the ReformNY Blog.
Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State of New York
The Brennan Center’s amicus brief in this case argued that the inadequate representation provided by the New York State Legislature justified judicial intervention in the funding of the state’s public schools.
The Brennan Center and other good government groups submitted an amicus brief in support of an ultimately successful effort to shed light on New York legislators’ pet projects.
Ethics Reform for New York State – Let’s Keep At It
What the new NY ethics bill will—and won’t—do to fix some of New York’s problems; plus a short, recent history of ethics reform bills of the last few years.
Ethics Reform in NY: New Package, New Contents?
While waiting for the details of the NY State Governor’s proposal for ethics and finance reform, here’s a quick history of the (halting) steps taken in that direction in the past few years.
Five years since the Brennan Center called the New York legislature the “most dysfunctional in the country,” the situation has not improved. “It’s gone from dysfunctional to laughable,” says Larry Norden. “It’s embarrassing.” Follow the Brennan Center’s efforts to reform New York politics on our blog, ReformNY.
Illustrations by Risko
Ethics Reform Should Include Open, Public Discussion
The Brennan Center is pleased to see the New York State Legislature committed to passing ethics reform, but the proposal must be subject to public scrutiny.
Strengthen NYS Senate’s Proposed Rules
Coalition of organizations calls on Albany to further strengthen their rules.
NYC Bar Supports Client Disclosure Requirement for Attorney-Legislators
There is no basis for the claims by some legislators that information about the part-time law practices many maintain alongside their official duties, such as the identity of their clients, is privileged and confidential. The NYC Bar report, issued today, refutes this.
Letter to New York Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Reform Regarding Committee Process
Outlines steps that the New York State Senate must take to reform the committee process
Testimony of Myrna Pérez before the New York State Senate Elections Committee
This testimony provides recommendations for improving New York’s election administration with respect to voting machines and voter registration.
State lawmakers’ first step must be basic reform
New York’s broken system needs some basic mending before they get down to polishing the bills. The needs for ethics and campaign finance reform are immediate.
The Brennan Center’s Senior Fellow discusses the dysfunction in Albany on WABC’s “Up Close” hosted by Diana Williams.
Albany Needs a Whole Lot More Sunshine
New York’s huge budget deficit—$15.4 billion in the next 15 months—will force difficult choices in terms of government services and tax policies for years to come. To engage intelligently in that debate, New Yorkers need far more information than we now receive from Albany.