RAIA DISAPPOINTED WITH DECISION TO UPHOLD STATUS QUO IN ALBANY

Assemblyman Andrew Raia (R,I,C-East Northport) recently joined members of the Assembly Minority Conference to call for immediate adoption of measures that would restore public trust by increasing transparency and accountability in the legislature. Following the downfall and conviction of two

Raia

former legislative leaders, Raia says it’s urgent for the Assembly to adopt critical ethics and rules reform measures.

Despite great effort by Raia and his colleagues, a package of meaningful rules reform changes was rejected on the Assembly floor.

The 17 reform proposals introduced by the Minority Conference included measures to:

–           Enact eight-year term limits for legislative leaders;

–           Enact eight-year term limits on the speaker of the Assembly;

–           Enact eight-year term limits for committee chairs;

–           Televise standing committee meetings, record all committee meetings, and make them available on the Assembly website; and

–           Allow each member of the Assembly to have at least one substantive piece of legislation moved out of committee and brought to the Assembly floor for a vote.

“In order to better serve the residents of Long Island, we need to shed light on the legislative process and enforce measures that end the corruption that has plagued the Capitol,” said Raia. “The status quo just isn’t good enough, and without support from both sides of the aisle, we were denied critical progress toward cleaning up Albany.”

Raia has continued to support ethics reform measures that increase the transparency and functionality of the legislative process, end the three-men-in-a-room decision making, and rid the Capitol of corrupt representatives with personal agendas.

“Common-sense reforms that would help all representatives better serve their constituents are what we’ve been calling for,” said Raia. “If our colleagues and legislative leaders are really looking to change the culture within our government, then we need to take action immediately.”