Sept. 17, 2008

Tonello outlines reform agenda, decries Albany's 'pay-to-play' culture

John Tonello, Democratic candidate for New York's 53rd district senate seat, today outlined his reform agenda that aims to eliminate the influence of special interests, tighten ethics rules in order to sharply curtail outside work done by sitting legislators, and end majority-only rule that feeds Albany gridlock.

"In order to change Albany's culture of abuse and dysfunction, we can't just tweak the knobs," Tonello said. "We must institute sweeping changes that return state government to the people."

Specifically, Tonello said he would champion the kind of bipartisanship that has been so successful in turning around Elmira during his nearly three years as Mayor. He drew a sharp contrast between his call for reform and his opponent's embrace of the status quo.

"George Winner has spent the last 30 years in Albany cultivating a reputation as an obstacle to change," Tonello said. "He relishes the very partisan politics and games that are destroying our state."

Tonello outlined six key points of reform he will champion:

1. Appoint an independent commission to redraw New York's legislative districts. "Gerrymandering has all but guaranteed that 95 percent of incumbents are returned to office," Tonello said. "That has led to zero accountability. Incumbents are just as likely to die in office as they are to be unseated by challengers. That's not what American democracy is about. Districts should mirror municipal boundaries, not political party enrollment as they are now. In Tompkins County, for example, current boundaries split the county into three different state senate districts. That doesn't make sense and it disenfranchises voters."

2. Limit corporate and PAC contributions to $1,000 per election cycle (current limit is $10,000) to reduce their overwhelming influence on legislators. "New York and out-of-state corporations and their PACs give millions to state senators and effectively block action on everything from the Bigger Better Bottle Bill to prescription drug purchasing reform. Since 2004, my opponent personally has accepted more than $650,000 from corporations, PACs, and committees for his campaigns, more than four times the $150,000 contributed by individuals. Anheuser-Busch, Bayer, Fortuna Energy, Met Life, Pfizer, Verizon and other companies have given George Winner thousands -- even in years when he's not running. I don't accept donations from corporations or their PACs, and I wholeheartedly reject this pay-to-play culture."

3. Bar legislators from accepting money or working for firms, agencies and organizations for which they seek to enact legislation. "It's an obvious conflict of interest for state senators to move bills on behalf of firms with which they have a personal relationship and derive income," Tonello said. "Yet this passes for normal in Albany. As a private attorney, George Winner represents New York State Electric & Gas and other firms, often against his constituents, and then acts on legislation that impacts those firms. His law firm, in which he has reported income as a partner, has represented Fortuna Energy, and George Winner has introduced legislation and lobbied state agencies on the company's behalf. The potential for conflict is clear."

4. Legislative Ethics Commission filings must be far more transparent and accessible. "Currently, legislators can hide business relationships that serve their own financial interests by lumping them together into vague and broad categories. This must change so voters can follow the money. Any and all business relationships should be clearly listed in these reports and the reports should be available online. Currently, these annual filings can only be acquired through formal Freedom of Information requests, a slow, costly and hardly transparent process."

5. Balance Senate resources and staff among all legislators -- regardless of party affiliation. "Under former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and now under leader Dean Skelos, the Senate Republican leadership has given its members five times the staff and resources than they allocate to minority Democratic members -- despite a 31-29 split," Tonello said. "The leadership also shuts out minority members' participation on most legislation. Like the Brennan Center for Justice, NYPIRG, Common Cause and other non-partisan good-government groups, I will demand dramatic rules changes that end these partisan imbalances and finally give all legislators an equal voice. I will act in the first 30 days to change the rules."

6. Reform member-item spending to eliminate partisan disparities and election-year posturing. "Of the more than $85 million handed out in 2008 for member items -- pet projects in senators' home districts -- the Senate majority took more than $75 million; the minority got barely $10 million. Senators hand out taxpayer dollars as though the money is their own benevolent gift. Member items should be largely eliminated and that money should be part of competitive and comprehensive strategies aimed at restoring local infrastructure (such as RestoreNY), promoting broad economic development strategies (via Empire State Development Corp.), and improving the lives of all New Yorkers, not just members of one political party over another. Similar reforms should be adopted in the Democrat-lead Assembly."

"Career politicians like George Winner cannot be trusted to suddenly change their stripes and reverse the policies they've cultivated over the past 30 years," Tonello said. "Mr. Winner and others like him want to preserve the status quo that has crippled New York for decades. I want to smash the status quo and give New York back to the people."