ACTION, NOT RHETORIC: AN OPEN LETTER FROM FRANCINE DELMONTE

 I’ve been a tireless advocate for Niagara County families by voting to increase transparency, reform state government, reduce state spending and offer real tax relief to working families. It’s been alleged that my priorities aren’t in line with Niagara’s needs, and that I’m perfectly satisfied with business as usual in Albany. Truth is I share your growing frustration with the status quo, a fact illustrated by my record, and I have stood in support with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo when he has unveiled measures calling for pension, campaign and government reforms.

This year, for example, I supported comprehensive ethics reform legislation that would’ve shed long-overdue light on our political process (A.9544). The package, widely hailed by good government groups, aimed to:

· create an investigative body to oversee legislative ethics;

· require greater disclosure from lobbyists;

· restore an independent lobbying commission;

· require greater information regarding legislators’ outside sources of income; and

· create a body within the state Board of Elections to enforce greater adherence to campaign finance laws.

Although the governor ultimately shot down the package, I successfully backed a like-minded law prohibiting politicians and their employees from using state property, services or resources for private business purposes (Chapter 1 of 2010).

A growing number of anonymous politically charged phone calls over the years into my district focused my attention on authoring legislation that would require campaign literature and other mass media, such as advertisements, robo calls, speeches and press releases, to identify the person, political party or committee authorizing the material (A.813). I also supported legislation to require that independently funded political communications costing more than $1,000 identify the funding source and report the communication to the state Board of Elections (A.11350). That bill responds directly to the recent U.S.Supreme Court decision that will allow special interests, lobbyists and corporations to spend unlimited sums of money to influence an election. Both these measures promise to expose specialinterests who seek to influence our elections and would create a more transparent, fairer election process in New York State.

But all’s for naught if your duly-elected representatives don’t address the problems affecting you and your bottom line, which is why I voted for a budget bill that consolidates state agencies, saving taxpayers $9 million this year and $30 million next year. And true to my word, I continue to oppose the inclusion of any new taxes, fees or borrowing at a time when you, and an over-extended state, can least afford it.

I was elected to serve you, your interests and those of our community, and that’s not a job Itake lightly – nor have I forgotten it. Albany is in dire need of change, and I’m working for reform every day.