New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno shocked the state capital by announcing that he would not run for reelection this November and was stepping down immediately as leader of the Senate’s slim Republican majority. Of course, why it should be suprise that a 79 year old should retire is a bit suprising outside of Albany. Two of the worst statists in New York, the evil Governor Spitzer and Senator Bruno, will be gone from the scene.
State Senate Republicans promptly elected Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre which is not far from me in Nassau County, Long Island.
Although the legislative session is over, here are my suggestions in case there is a special session called by the governor or the Republicans retain their majority and Skelos as their leader. Maybe the GOP would like to adopt a real reform agenda entering the fall elections.
1) Reject the calls by the establishment media for so-called "public" financing of elections. They mean taxpayer financing of elections. What this means is that taxpayers are coerced into paying for the expression of opinions with which they disagree. As Thomas Jefferson, the father of the First Amendment wrote in connection with the state established church "To compel a man to payfor the propagation of opinions not his own is sinful and tyrannical." What the NY Times and others of its ilk want is for taxpayers to pay for the moderate left wing of the Democrat Party and the rump moderates (that is appalling statist centrists) of the Republican Party.
2) Real campaign reform is available. There is legislation introduced that would cut the signature requirements to qualify for the primary and general election ballots. This would make for more competition and more choice, including "minor" parties.
3) Skelos is advocating a property-tax cap. While encouraging, it is still primarily concerned with the suburban base of the Republicans in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange and Rorckland Counties. He should be calling for tax, spending and borrowing caps for the state and all local governments. Skelos like Bruno is not an opponent of big government but an accomplice.
4) GOP Senator DiFrancisco has introduced legislation to curb eminent domain abuse. This should be passed even if the Assembly with its Democrat-stranglehold won’t consider it. Unfortunately, Republicans officials are just as much involved in eminent domain abuse such as Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn as Democrats. That is why we need a strong Libertarian Party of New York www.ny.lp.org.
5) Pass the medical marijuana bill which passed the Assembly. While medical marijuana is a poor substitute for legalization which may make some too satisfied to push for it, under the current conditions it is probably the best we can hope for and may serve as proof that the sky won’t fall down.
None of the reforms that are called for above are likely to be embraced by Senator Skelos and his declining majority. Real reform lies with the Libertarian Party. This year, vote for Bob Barr for President www.bobbarr2008.com and vote Libertarian for Governor in 2010.
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Richard Cooper was a Ron Paul delegate in the February primary. He is the former Chair of the Libertarian Party of New York www.ny.lp.org and is currently an At-Large member of the State Committee. By profession, he is the export/import manager of a Long Island manufacturer.
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