Archive: Opinions

To the Editor:

I am writing to urge every New Yorker to vote "No" on November 7th to stop New York state from wasting millions of tax dollars on a constitutional convention. On the back of the ballot the following referendum will appear, "Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?" If the referendum passes, the entire state constitution will be vulnerable to revision which will cost tax payers millions of dollars and could have life changing consequences for the citizens of New York.

The state Constitution guarantees protections for free speech, the environment, public education, workers' right to join a union, pension rights, and aid to the needy. These rights - and many more - are at risk if a constitutional convention is convened.

Don't trust everything you read. Supporters paint a naively rosy picture of possible reforms. But it is not going to be a "People's Convention," as some well-financed people would like you to believe. The process for becoming a convention delegate is complicated and expensive which discourages ordinary citizens from running. History has shown that the vast majority of delegates would come from the same political apparatus we deal with in Albany right now. Past constitutional conventions have been costly extensions of state legislative sessions - filled with political posturing - with the same politicians and special interest groups running the show. Of the 186 delegates to the last convention 154 either held public office as an elected or appointed official or had in the past. That means lawmakers elected as delegates could double their salaries and significantly fatten their pensions. And the overall cost is exorbitant - estimates are that a convention could cost between $50 million and $100 million.

A constitutional convention will be extremely expensive and it's not necessary! We can amend our constitution, without additional costs, by placing individual amendments on the ballot. This process has been used more than 200 times. In 2014 voters passed an amendment to create an independent commission on redistricting and an amendment allowing for electronic versions of bills rather than requiring paper copies. In addition, there will be two more proposed Amendments on this year's ballot.

With all of the issues we're facing - the possible loss of health care coverage for millions of New Yorkers, keeping public education accessible and affordable, and more - there are better ways to spend our hard-earned tax dollars than on an unnecessary convention.

I'm worried that many delegates will be looking out for themselves and their donors, not their constituents and the common good. Vote No on November 7th to oppose a constitutional convention.

Kathleen McHugh
Freeville, NY
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