A modest proposal for reform in Albany

Our state constitution came into existence during the Depression and features a very strong executive branch. The legislature's powers are somewhat attenuated which IMO creates many of the difficulties we are now facing.

I think every now and then that New York should actually do something RADICAL about how WE govern ourselves. We have a broken, i.e. dysfunctional, system in terms of how we handle the legislative and executive side of the house. The judiciary is certainly a mess especially upstate with our idiotic town justice system. This diary will focus on the former instead of the latter.

The following are two modest proposals for reform:

Given the above, I wonder if we shouldn't radically tinker with how we govern ourselves. For example, why not create a unicameral legislature after all the senate and assembly have the same 2-year terms.

The other approach would be to adopt a parliamentary system. I'd opt for the system used in Scotland which seeks consensus. At any rate the Assembly would choose the prime minister and that person would handle the government. The comptroller and all agencies heads including the Attorney General would all be folks elected to the Assembly. The government could fall though a vote of no confidence. We would then have new elections.

I'd love to have New Yorkers exposed to how their government works through Prime Minister's Questions.........

Thing about it -- instead of waiting for Pataki's term to end -- we could of had a vote of no confidence and BAM he'd have been GONE. We wouldn't have to wait around to change things in Albany. In addition, this process would produce a system in which the prime minister and agency heads were all folks chosen by virtue of local elections. IMHO we need a state government made up of folks close to the people.

BTW, I'd drop all pretense of the assembly being a part-time job. I'd make them full-time jobs. In addition, we'd need public campaign financing along with a shortened campaign season...say 6-8 weeks max.