Good Government, Civic & Religious Groups Call on Assembly and Senate Candidates to Commit to Reform in Albany

NEW YORK, NY (10/27/2008)(readMedia)-- Inside the Atrium in the County Office Building today, good government, civic, and religious organizations joined together to call on Rochester-area candidates to commit to reforming our state-level government by signing the Pledge for Change NY. The Pledge for Change has been endorsed by Citizens for Better Government in NY, Common Cause/NY, The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester, The League of Women Voters NYS, and NYPIRG.

"This is an opportunity for candidates to indicate their strong support for baseline, essential reforms," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director, Common Cause/New York. "It is undeniable that New York's Legislature is not working effectively. The four areas of reform the Pledge for Change identifies would break the logjam currently paralyzing the legislature. There is still time for all candidates to stand proudly for real reform by signing the Pledge"

"The Interfaith Alliance is most concerned about this Pledge for Change because, as people of faith, we are committed to resolving our issues through civil discourse and the opportunity for all parties of interest to be respected for their meaningful participation in the deliberative process," said Neil Jaschik, Executive Committee, The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester. "It is apparent that the current operations of the New York State Legislature violate these principles. We call on all candidates to commit to the changes outlined in this pledge," Jaschik concluded.

"All New Yorkers face significant challenges now and in the coming years regarding declining tax revenues, aging infrastructure, helping our kids be successful in school, reducing the burdensome impact of taxes on individuals and businesses and corralling state debt," said Stuart Berger, President, Citizens for Better Government in NY. "The success of our state depends upon our elected officials working together for the common good transparently. The Pledge for Change captures the essence of the commitments that our elected officials must embrace to face these challenges."

The Pledge for Change NY lays out four specific areas of reform. By signing the Pledge, candidates state that, if elected, they commit to be a force for change in Albany by working within their house and party caucus for legislation and rules changes which would:

1.

Restore faith in New York's ethics by establishing a Legislative Ethics Commission;

2.

Make Elections Fair by adopting public funding of election campaigns;

3.

End the Practice of Legislators Choosing Their Voters, through the creation of an independent redistricting committee; and,

4.

Open the legislative process and let the people see and participate through meaningful rules reform.

The Pledge for Change NY is available at www.PledgeForChangeNY.org. The website includes a list of all candidates in New York State, their position regarding the Pledge for Change, background information on each of the reforms, as well as ways for citizens to become involved in the push for legislative reform in Albany.

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