THE WEEK OF MAY 2, 2002
 

THE WEEK OF MAY 2, 2002
State Senate Is Studying
Initiative, Referendum Bill
Would Give Voters Direct Role

The New York State Senate has acted on a constitutional amendment that would give New Yorkers a more direct role in the legislative process by empowering them to enact and amend laws through initiative and referendum.
Dubbed S.7306, the initiative is a statutory or constitutional change that is placed on the ballot for a public vote; referendum refers to the power of the people to place on the ballot, laws that already have been enacted by the State Legislature and either accept or reject them in whole or in part. Approximately one-half of states across the nation have some form of initiative and referendum.
The proposal, which was submitted as a program bill by Governor George Pataki, would amend the State Constitution to allow for direct initiative and referendum, whereby measures are placed on the ballot at the November general election for a popular vote after a certain number of signatures are collected. Under the proposal, signatures from five percent of the total voters statewide in the last gubernatorial election (approximately 250,000) would be required.
To ensure that a measure has a broad base of statewide support, these signatures would be required to include at least 5,000 signature of residents from at least three-fifths of the state’s congressional districts.
The bill also allows for initiative and referendum at the county, city, town or village level. To propose any measure at the local level, signatures from at least five percent of the residents in the municipality who voted in the last gubernatorial election would be required. A measure would become law if it receives the approval of the majority of voters within the municipality.
“Initiative and referendum is one of the most powerful tools in politics because it gives the people the ability to make informed decisions to directly change the powers and priorities of their government,” Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. “It gives people the power to directly decide on ideas that have strong public support, yet have not been acted on by their state or local government. For years the Senate has passed budget reform bills, tax cut plans, criminal justice measures and other reforms only to see them stall in the Assembly. Initiative and Referendum could help get these proposals enacted through a direct public vote.”
“Initiative and Referendum is a fundamental reform that will give New Yorkers more power to make decisions on public policy issues. It will also allow us as lawmakers to obtain a better view of the concerns of the citizens,” said State Senator Serphin Maltese. “As one of our founding fathers, Andrew Jackson, said, the people are the government. By enacting Initiative and Referendum, we will be ensuring that the people of this state play a more integral role in the decision-making process. Ensuring that the power is the hands of the people is the best way to preserve the democracy that is a cornerstone of our country.”
“As a long time proponent of initiative and referendum, I’m happy that the Senate is taking the lead in giving the citizens of New York more power and control in the way their state government functions,” State Senator Frank Padavan said. “It is essential to our democracy that we have high levels of participation and that the citizenry have a voice in how things are done. This proposal will increase participation levels and the strength of that voice.”
“In passing this bill, the State Senate has shown its responsiveness to the citizens of New York, who should have the right to create laws directly. Initiative and Referendum gives them that right,” Frank MacKay, state chairman of the Independence Party, said. “The Independence Party will continue to bring the campaign for Initiative and Referendum out to the grass roots and we will campaign aggressively with every member of the Assembly to seek passage.”
“The Conservative Party of New York State has long supported Initiative and Referendum because we believe that by offering voters the chance to have a direct voice in state and local government, more people will become interested and involved,” Michael Long, chair of the Conservative Party, said. “We applaud the Senator for passing this bill because letting the voters decide what is best for them could make an enormous difference on many issues facing the people of this state.”
“New Yorkers will continue to watch the state legislative process from the sidelines if the Assembly fails to pass this legislation,” said Senator Bruno. “I applaud Governor Pataki for proposing this measure and I strongly urge the Assembly to act it so that the people of New York will have a greater voice in deciding on the issues that face New York State.”
 

THE WEEK OF MAY 2, 2002
State Senate Is Studying
Initiative, Referendum Bill
Would Give Voters Direct Role

The New York State Senate has acted on a constitutional amendment that would give New Yorkers a more direct role in the legislative process by empowering them to enact and amend laws through initiative and referendum.
Dubbed S.7306, the initiative is a statutory or constitutional change that is placed on the ballot for a public vote; referendum refers to the power of the people to place on the ballot, laws that already have been enacted by the State Legislature and either accept or reject them in whole or in part. Approximately one-half of states across the nation have some form of initiative and referendum.
The proposal, which was submitted as a program bill by Governor George Pataki, would amend the State Constitution to allow for direct initiative and referendum, whereby measures are placed on the ballot at the November general election for a popular vote after a certain number of signatures are collected. Under the proposal, signatures from five percent of the total voters statewide in the last gubernatorial election (approximately 250,000) would be required.
To ensure that a measure has a broad base of statewide support, these signatures would be required to include at least 5,000 signature of residents from at least three-fifths of the state’s congressional districts.
The bill also allows for initiative and referendum at the county, city, town or village level. To propose any measure at the local level, signatures from at least five percent of the residents in the municipality who voted in the last gubernatorial election would be required. A measure would become law if it receives the approval of the majority of voters within the municipality.
“Initiative and referendum is one of the most powerful tools in politics because it gives the people the ability to make informed decisions to directly change the powers and priorities of their government,” Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. “It gives people the power to directly decide on ideas that have strong public support, yet have not been acted on by their state or local government. For years the Senate has passed budget reform bills, tax cut plans, criminal justice measures and other reforms only to see them stall in the Assembly. Initiative and Referendum could help get these proposals enacted through a direct public vote.”
“Initiative and Referendum is a fundamental reform that will give New Yorkers more power to make decisions on public policy issues. It will also allow us as lawmakers to obtain a better view of the concerns of the citizens,” said State Senator Serphin Maltese. “As one of our founding fathers, Andrew Jackson, said, the people are the government. By enacting Initiative and Referendum, we will be ensuring that the people of this state play a more integral role in the decision-making process. Ensuring that the power is the hands of the people is the best way to preserve the democracy that is a cornerstone of our country.”
“As a long time proponent of initiative and referendum, I’m happy that the Senate is taking the lead in giving the citizens of New York more power and control in the way their state government functions,” State Senator Frank Padavan said. “It is essential to our democracy that we have high levels of participation and that the citizenry have a voice in how things are done. This proposal will increase participation levels and the strength of that voice.”
“In passing this bill, the State Senate has shown its responsiveness to the citizens of New York, who should have the right to create laws directly. Initiative and Referendum gives them that right,” Frank MacKay, state chairman of the Independence Party, said. “The Independence Party will continue to bring the campaign for Initiative and Referendum out to the grass roots and we will campaign aggressively with every member of the Assembly to seek passage.”
“The Conservative Party of New York State has long supported Initiative and Referendum because we believe that by offering voters the chance to have a direct voice in state and local government, more people will become interested and involved,” Michael Long, chair of the Conservative Party, said. “We applaud the Senator for passing this bill because letting the voters decide what is best for them could make an enormous difference on many issues facing the people of this state.”
“New Yorkers will continue to watch the state legislative process from the sidelines if the Assembly fails to pass this legislation,” said Senator Bruno. “I applaud Governor Pataki for proposing this measure and I strongly urge the Assembly to act it so that the people of New York will have a greater voice in deciding on the issues that face New York State.”


The New York State Senate has acted on a constitutional amendment that would give New Yorkers a more direct role in the legislative process by empowering them to enact and amend laws through initiative and referendum.
Dubbed S.7306, the initiative is a statutory or constitutional change that is placed on the ballot for a public vote; referendum refers to the power of the people to place on the ballot, laws that already have been enacted by the State Legislature and either accept or reject them in whole or in part. Approximately one-half of states across the nation have some form of initiative and referendum.
The proposal, which was submitted as a program bill by Governor George Pataki, would amend the State Constitution to allow for direct initiative and referendum, whereby measures are placed on the ballot at the November general election for a popular vote after a certain number of signatures are collected. Under the proposal, signatures from five percent of the total voters statewide in the last gubernatorial election (approximately 250,000) would be required.
To ensure that a measure has a broad base of statewide support, these signatures would be required to include at least 5,000 signature of residents from at least three-fifths of the state’s congressional districts.
The bill also allows for initiative and referendum at the county, city, town or village level. To propose any measure at the local level, signatures from at least five percent of the residents in the municipality who voted in the last gubernatorial election would be required. A measure would become law if it receives the approval of the majority of voters within the municipality.
“Initiative and referendum is one of the most powerful tools in politics because it gives the people the ability to make informed decisions to directly change the powers and priorities of their government,” Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. “It gives people the power to directly decide on ideas that have strong public support, yet have not been acted on by their state or local government. For years the Senate has passed budget reform bills, tax cut plans, criminal justice measures and other reforms only to see them stall in the Assembly. Initiative and Referendum could help get these proposals enacted through a direct public vote.”
“Initiative and Referendum is a fundamental reform that will give New Yorkers more power to make decisions on public policy issues. It will also allow us as lawmakers to obtain a better view of the concerns of the citizens,” said State Senator Serphin Maltese. “As one of our founding fathers, Andrew Jackson, said, the people are the government. By enacting Initiative and Referendum, we will be ensuring that the people of this state play a more integral role in the decision-making process. Ensuring that the power is the hands of the people is the best way to preserve the democracy that is a cornerstone of our country.”
“As a long time proponent of initiative and referendum, I’m happy that the Senate is taking the lead in giving the citizens of New York more power and control in the way their state government functions,” State Senator Frank Padavan said. “It is essential to our democracy that we have high levels of participation and that the citizenry have a voice in how things are done. This proposal will increase participation levels and the strength of that voice.”
“In passing this bill, the State Senate has shown its responsiveness to the citizens of New York, who should have the right to create laws directly. Initiative and Referendum gives them that right,” Frank MacKay, state chairman of the Independence Party, said. “The Independence Party will continue to bring the campaign for Initiative and Referendum out to the grass roots and we will campaign aggressively with every member of the Assembly to seek passage.”
“The Conservative Party of New York State has long supported Initiative and Referendum because we believe that by offering voters the chance to have a direct voice in state and local government, more people will become interested and involved,” Michael Long, chair of the Conservative Party, said. “We applaud the Senator for passing this bill because letting the voters decide what is best for them could make an enormous difference on many issues facing the people of this state.”
“New Yorkers will continue to watch the state legislative process from the sidelines if the Assembly fails to pass this legislation,” said Senator Bruno. “I applaud Governor Pataki for proposing this measure and I strongly urge the Assembly to act it so that the people of New York will have a greater voice in deciding on the issues that face New York State.”