NEW YORK NEEDS INITIATIVE
By Bob Confer

Albany is broken and needs fixing. That, we know. And so do the politicians. That’s why every one of them the state over asks for citizen participation in the political process.

Sometimes this request is all bark and no bite, lacking in merit and meaning. Many politicians are not keen on extensive public input (it decreases their power) while others tout the philosophies of the representative form of government and the faith in the elected officials that comes with it.

But, quite often, this request for active civics does have something behind it. Many politicians do appreciate input and value the efforts of the citizens who have entrusted them. Case in point, the New York State Senate - a constant and well-deserved target of closed-government sentiments - has recently proposed a measure to afford New Yorkers a greater ability to participate in governmental affairs. They have introduced an amendment to the state constitution (S.6020 to be exact) that would bring initiative and referendum powers to the voters. Still awaiting approval and even acknowledgement from the Assembly, this would be a stupendous means by which to give power to the people.  

An initiative is the most powerful tool that a citizen could have, even more powerful than a standard vote in an election. With this tool activists and other concerned people can create their own statutes and amendments which then appear on the ballot when enough signatures have been collected to show initial support. This is good citizenship and democracy at their finest: the average person is given the chance to see a need, develop the legislation to address that need, and then present that legislation to others. 

A referendum is slightly different than an initiative but is still an asset to the citizen. In this practice voters are given the ability to pass or reject bills enacted by the legislature. So, if you feel disgusted or delighted with what your elected official has done, you can not only vote him or her into or out of office but you can also give the thumbs up or down to their actions. This gives significant responsibility and authority to voters, allowing them to offer a much-needed system of checks and balances, showing just who the boss is. After all, laws are by and for the people, and if the people don’t want them then so be it.       

Based upon decades of bad government and the resulting economic and social malaise in New York, initiatives and referendums would inject some serious life into the political scene. Twenty-four states already have them and many of those states have seen their people use them with great vigor and success. The fact that our state - arguably the most important in the Union - is not one of the twenty-four is truly confounding. We have had an impressive history of varied leaders (including men who have gone on to the presidency) who have touted “democracy” and the rights of the “little guy”, yet we don’t have the most basic of democratic measures in place actually empowering the little guy.

Maybe someday we will. Chances are it won’t be anytime soon. The Senate has introduced this measure before with the Assembly turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to it. Such is the norm with two-party, bicameral legislature; one house or party won’t agree with the other if it has introduced a great bill that is out of the ordinary because the other party gets credit for it. The New York State Assembly and Senate have actually made their careers out of doing this to one another at the expense of the taxpayers (yet another reason for the passage of this amendment!).

If my pessimism is wrong this time and the Assembly accepts the most recent I&R amendment with open arms (which they just might with reform-minded Steamroller Spitzer in power) we’d be looking at this constitutional amendment being up for vote on the November 2009 ballot. Then it would be up to the people to pass the amendment and, afterwards, act upon the powers they were given. Then and only then will we know we’re living in a state with democratic tendencies, one where the politicians and the average citizens all care and show it.