The “New Dawn Plan” is Colin’s blueprint of action to create a better New York. Our first goals will be to focus on ethics reform, budget reform, and job creation.  Additionally, there are many other pressing issues facing our state, meaning that New Dawn will not yield in pursuing reforms and changes in all areas to ensure that we bring responsible and limited government back to New York.

There is no doubt that Albany is broken. The “New Dawn Plan” has three pillars for which it will seek to create a better New York. Each pillar has five changes that can be enacted that will bring to New York the type of government that it deserves—one that works for the people, not for special interests and career politicians.

ETHICS REFORM:

Ethics is defined as “the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.” Sadly, our state government has thrown away those rules of conduct and operates under its own rules of convenience. Enough is enough: hard rules must be set to start creating fairer and more responsible government.

Independent Redistricting: Fair, competitive districts must be created. It is said that elections are the best term limits, but that statement only holds true if the playing field is fair and level for all. The current legislative redistricting process is unfair and lends itself to likely corruption and a decline in constituent services.  The implementation of an independent redistricting commission is the best way to ensure that the legislative maps in NY are drawn the represent people, and not a particular party. New Dawn is pleased to support current Senate legislation S1614A and others like it that strive to make such changes reality for the 2010 reapportionment.

Disclosure of outside work and income: While representing the people of New York should be a full-time job, many legislators work on the side consulting and providing services that interfere with their official duties. New Dawn supports legislation that would require all legislators to disclose non-legislative income and its sources. The elected officials of New York should be open and fair—no more hidden agendas and under-the-table second incomes.

Fair Allocation of Member Items: Members items (the “pork” of Albany) have long been the subject of a contentious debate. With soaring taxes and an out-of-control budget, many feel that there should be a tighter reign on the money legislators give out. New Dawn believes in equal distribution of member item monies that are blind to seniority and party affiliation. State monies should be distributed based upon need and compliance with existing qualifications to receive state funding.

Campaign Finance Reform: The State Board of Elections needs to be empowered to enforce rules currently on the books for sitting legislators. Upon this action, enforcement needs to be reviewed and aggressive action needs to be taken to ensure that campaign finance is an open and transparent process that allows for the freedom of all candidates and citizens to participate in the political process.

Creation of Independent Ethics Commission: New York needs an independent ethics commission that has the authority of oversight and enforcement of ethics laws for the executive and legislative branches, as well as for lobbyists. The proposal has had support for years, but Albany continues to block simple advancements that would ensure a government that works for the citizens of New York. In a state where prosperity is strangled by its own corruption, the creation of an Independent Ethics Commission should be enacted without delay.

BUDGET REFORM

Budget reform becomes more and more critical with each passing day. Each year, we see a process that fails the people of New York, but legislators have historically only been willing to make minimal changes. Although it will be a difficult process, with some statutory and constitutional changes, real budget reforms could take hold.

Shift Fiscal Year Start Date: The start of the fiscal year should be changed from April 1st to July 1st and proper attention must be given to allow for the appropriate changes to the school budget process. This important change would align New York with a majority of the country and would allow for, among other things, the state to have a full understanding of how much tax revenue it has to use before finalizing the budget and school aide numbers.

Posting Requirement: We need to require a five-day public posting of the state budget before a final vote is held. This allows all New York residents and concerned parties to fully review and analyze the impending budget. The requirement should mandate that both printed and online versions be available. The complexity and intricacies of the budget require at least a five-day period for review.

Require a Balanced Budget: All funds must be required to be balanced under GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) standards. A balanced budget is when revenues equal expenditure and the government does not operate in a deficit. If New York accepted this as part of the budget process we could start operating within our means as a state.

Shift to a two-year budget cycle: Main budget adoptions should occur in odd-numbered years (non-elections). This would help take the budget out of the politics of reelection for sitting members and allow them to focus solely on doing what is necessary for New York.

Cap Spending Growth: “Blueprint for a Better Budget,” by the Empire Center http://j.mp/cvLYgs outlines how New York State can successfully enact this option of budget reform: “imitating the Tax Expenditure Limitation (TEL) laws implemented in states of Missouri, Washington and, most notably, Colorado. This approach effectively limits spending by capping the growth of revenues raised by the state, requiring that revenues in excess of inflation and population growth be refunded to taxpayers or deposited in a larger rainy day fund.” New York State spending is out of control. This reform and others like it will start to bring economic stability back to the Empire State.

JOB CREATION:

Government should not create jobs, but rather provide the tools for private industry to do so. New York has roughly 8.6% unemployment, something which has driven people out of our state. 8% population migration since 2000 constitutes the largest migration out of all states. The highest percentage of those who migrate are the highest tax bracket, losing significant tax revenues and higher skilled workers.

MTA Payroll Tax Elimination: The 0.34% tax on payroll is anti-business and anti-employment. It is going to cause job loss which ignites a vicious cycle of government dependency.

Erase and reduce regulation: Let’s make New York a friendlier place to own and operate a business. Government needs to reduce red tape and make New York a pro-business state. It shouldn’t be a struggle to be a productive, job-creating member of society. Government should also provide incentives for people to start their own businesses, including tax breaks and other grants.

Reduce business taxes: Simple economics: the lower the taxes, the more money available for business to hire more works and create more New York jobs, for New York residents. Taxes need to be cut for business and for those who utilize the lower taxes to create new NY jobs, should be granted additional tax incentives.

Workforce Development: New York needs to train and educate a 21st century workforce. We need to use the resources available in state and develop new methods to bring the skills employers in New York or those interested in coming to the state want directly to an available pool of eager and qualified New Yorkers. Training and education of all New York residents is a key to job creation.

Encourage development of more mass transit: Train routes are lined with sprawling economic zones. A passenger-only train line may entice local cities to open stations along the route, which brings a workforce directly to the locations employers find more desirable to open shop. This can lead to support of a SmartGrowthNY initiative http://j.mp/aUsqhQ : “Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), also known as “Transit Villages.” TODs are compact, walkable/bikeable, mixed-use communities planned on a village scale and built around transit – rail, bus or ferry.” The growth and development of all of New York States resources will bring additional interest to our best resource: our human resource.