Saturday, July 8, 2017

Albany preparing for possible con-con

From the NY Times:

Every 20 years, New Yorkers have the chance to vote whether they want to hold a constitutional convention to amend, tweak or otherwise improve the founding document of the state.

For the past half-century, voters have demurred. This year, however, academics, good-government groups and others believe the outcome of the ballot question in November may be different. And — perhaps no surprise — it has something to do with the current occupant of the White House.

“Trump’s election emphasizes how valuable it is for states to chart their own course,” said Peter J. Galie, author of “Ordered Liberty: A Constitutional History of New York” and a professor of political science at Canisius College in Buffalo. “We can put a right to clean air and water in our Constitution. If we want to add more labor protections, we can do it. That’s the beauty of federalism.”

But before voters confront the ballot question, they will no doubt be barraged by campaigns for and against a constitutional convention, affectionately called Con-Con.

Nonprofit groups interested in issues including campaign finance reform, redistricting, term limits and the legalization of marijuana have come out in favor of a convention. They argue that the state Legislature is unlikely to take up these thorny, politically treacherous topics. At the same time, unions like the United Federation of Teachers and state legislative leaders have argued against a convention, saying it could repeal hallowed protections.

There are some offbeat — some might say flaky — positions that advocates say could come about only during a constitutional convention. They include calls for a unicameral Legislature — doing away with the Assembly or Senate — and the division of the state into autonomous regions, with separate regional governors and legislatures.

If voters approve a convention, delegates would be elected in 2018, with the convention held the next year.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

NO !! All the democrats and liberals will come for our firearms, internet speech and basements at gunpoint !!!

Gary W said...

So all of a sudden the lefties are for states rights.

Anonymous said...

For 5 more dollars per child in EBT I will vote to bankrupt city pensions,we have the numbers now so it's time to bribe US not the Unions.

Anonymous said...

No

Ned said...

""So all of a sudden the lefties are for states rights""

No and im sure many others will agree this is a shill being spoon-fed to all the stupid people written in the press to make them think it a meal. This "Con Con" may as well mean Comic Con for all stupid voters know.

Make no mistake, the lefties wanna'a redraw the "state constitution" to pre-empt MORE things "they don't like" in the Federal US Constitution. I remember some rocket scientist up in Queens had an internet free speech ban bill that got stricken because the lefties were squeamish passing it without fear of a massive expensive American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit.
If they tweak NY states constitution.. Marxist bills like that can come back, get passed and sign it into law by Cuomo II. This placing blog owners behind the gun to remove posts and information they don't want out.

Remember ... the Left is absolutely terrified of US Constitution Article 19, free speech and will do literally anything to shut it down and in New York has enough stupid voters to give them that power. These leftists are pulling a play straight out of the Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Mao Tse-Tung idealism's like defending restrictions, the very same censorship instituted by bothe Hitler and the Bourgeois elite to oppress the little people and make them powerless.

The NY governor has been saying things like "if you don't want to share, don't want to help out your fellow man, own guns and say hurtful things maybe New York is not the state for you" I saw him on TV waving a fist screaming that out.
Another words "F#ck You and your rights" you will soon have to do as we say under law'

-Ned
www.nra.org





Res Ipsa said...

As far as i know the left is opposed to this because of the fear that unions and worker protections would be gutted if it went for a vote. Unions are urging members to vote no for the convention for that reason.

Anonymous said...

Scary days !

Anonymous said...

F you EBT increase poster.

Anonymous said...

F_ the greedy unions !!
Do you know what it cost a family of 4 to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas show because of these IA pricks making $82 an hour, --to sit around drinking coffie, 1.5 hour curfew brakes or nap up in the balcony 1/2 the time,
How about the cost of a hotel room even in Queens ?

We are all getting killed by Obamacare, these brat union people need to make sacrifices and tighten our belts just like the rest of us. Most supported Obama and Clinton (like that Local 3 now in a big beef with Spectrum cable) -- Who now don't like what the asked for --LOL

Anonymous said...

It's a great idea - except that the Democratic machine will do it's best to make sure everyone elected to the commission are fully owned machine drones.

How do we avoid that? Otherwise we won't get the change we need - hell, we might even end up worse.