Saturday, November 5, 2005
SO-CALLED BUDGET REFORM IS A SHAM
By Randy A. Daniels
Rarely, in recent decades, has an idea been put forth that elicits stronger opposition across the political spectrum than Proposal 1, which appears on the statewide ballot Tuesday. Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives have all joined in denouncing this attempt at budget reform, which would take away the power of the governor to shape the state budget and turn that power, almost exclusively, over to the state Legislature and the myriad special interests that control its membership. This is not reform, this is a naked power grab.
Incredibly, an idea that so many informed observers recognize as wrongheaded now appears to have a good chance of passing. Everyone who cares about New York and our economic future must get out and vote this Tuesday to stop this dangerous proposal from becoming law.
The proponents of Proposal 1 start by saying there is universal agreement that the budget process in Albany does not work very well. Therefore, they want to change the basic nature of the process, changing the way power is shared between the executive and legislative branches of government. In my book, that's some awful flimsy logic.
It's true that budgets have been chronically late in recent years. But New York's strong executive budgeting system has been around in its current form for more than 70 years. There's another reason for this lateness: The Legislature is addicted to spending.
Another major criticism of the budget process in Albany is the lack of accountability. Taxpayers never seem to get angry enough to cause electoral change. Good point. But by what logic will shifting power to the Legislature increase accountability? That will only be achieved by voting entrenched incumbents out of office. But legislatures have become the least accountable political institutions in America. With new software packages, legislators now have the capacity to gerrymander districts in ways that make it simply impossible for incumbents to lose.
Races for executive office are very different. They take place in states, counties or cities whose borders are already set and thus cannot be gerrymandered. Campaigns for these offices are much more competitive, attracting greater scrutiny by voters, who know their decisions can actually make a difference.
The third major criticism concerns secrecy. In theory it's probably easier to have an open process in a legislature than in the executive branch, where people's paychecks are beholden to the executive. But this is New York, which has by general agreement the least democratic and most secretive legislature anywhere in the country. So once again, the logic for Proposal 1 fails.
If these arguments are so weak, then why are the forces supporting this "reform" working so hard, and why have they been able to raise so much money for the current blitz of television ads? Well, here, the answer is simple. It's the lure of the people's money.
The forces that want Proposal 1 to pass are the familiar special interests that made such a mess of New York's economy in the first place, giving us high taxes, runaway spending, burdensome regulation and a government unresponsive to the taxpayers of New York. They clearly understand that putting the Legislature in charge of budget-making decisions will only make their job that much easier.
Don't let that happen. Please vote Tuesday against Proposal 1. The future of New York depends on it.
Daniels, of the Bronx, stepped down as New York secretary of state in September.
