300miles
January 25th, 2006, 02:01 PM
He advocates a Constitutional Convention as soon as he's elected.... definitely gets bonus points in my book.
Weld Urges Political Reforms
Posted by: Jerry Gasser, News Operations Manager
Updated: 1/25/2006 7:36:27 AM
ALBANY — Republican gubernatorial candidate William Weld rolled out a reform plan for New York on Tuesday that includes capping campaign spending, denying state contracts to political contributors and banning fundraisers while the Legislature is in session.
The former Massachusetts governor said New York government needs a shakeup so badly that he would propose a constitutional convention on his first day in office.
His reform suggestions were part of a larger package including some previously announced proposals, such as school choice and a "taxpayers' bill of rights" to limit state spending.
Weld advocates giving voters the power to place issues on the ballot by petition and to make law by initiative and referendum. He proposes an independent commission to draw legislative districts, and he would limit governors and state legislators to eight years in office.
"The way to make our state stronger is to return to the values of choice and competition," he said in a statement.
The plan was released as Weld tries to regain momentum. To some Republicans, he became the front-runner for the party's nomination when he won a straw poll of county party leaders in December. He reported raising more money than his Republican rivals by mid-January ($2 million), but some expected more.
Weld has been dogged by an investigation of a closed Kentucky college he once ran, and former Republican power broker Alfonse D'Amato has been deriding Weld in the media.
Weld unveiled his plan a week before Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano is expected to announce whether he'll seek the GOP nomination.
School choice and a "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" are emerging as potential "wedge issues" that Weld and other Republicans hope to use to pry away Democratic and independent voters. Former Assemblyman John Faso of Columbia County and Assemblyman Patrick Manning of Dutchess County also have included school choice and spending caps in their platforms.
Developing wedge issues is important for Republicans because Democrats outnumber them in New York 5.4 million to 3.1 million and because polls show Democrats with big leads already in statewide races.
Weld said he would push to give parents tax credits or deductions for their children's education in nonpublic schools and would seek to repeal the "Blaine Amendment," which blocks public dollars from being spent at religious schools.
He proposed limiting campaign spending in statewide races to $3.25 per registered voter (roughly $37 million for the 2006 campaign).
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic frontrunner, leads Weld and other Republicans by 32 to 48 percentage points in polls.
source: http://www.wgrz.com/printfullstory.aspx?storyid=34803
Weld Urges Political Reforms
Posted by: Jerry Gasser, News Operations Manager
Updated: 1/25/2006 7:36:27 AM
ALBANY — Republican gubernatorial candidate William Weld rolled out a reform plan for New York on Tuesday that includes capping campaign spending, denying state contracts to political contributors and banning fundraisers while the Legislature is in session.
The former Massachusetts governor said New York government needs a shakeup so badly that he would propose a constitutional convention on his first day in office.
His reform suggestions were part of a larger package including some previously announced proposals, such as school choice and a "taxpayers' bill of rights" to limit state spending.
Weld advocates giving voters the power to place issues on the ballot by petition and to make law by initiative and referendum. He proposes an independent commission to draw legislative districts, and he would limit governors and state legislators to eight years in office.
"The way to make our state stronger is to return to the values of choice and competition," he said in a statement.
The plan was released as Weld tries to regain momentum. To some Republicans, he became the front-runner for the party's nomination when he won a straw poll of county party leaders in December. He reported raising more money than his Republican rivals by mid-January ($2 million), but some expected more.
Weld has been dogged by an investigation of a closed Kentucky college he once ran, and former Republican power broker Alfonse D'Amato has been deriding Weld in the media.
Weld unveiled his plan a week before Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano is expected to announce whether he'll seek the GOP nomination.
School choice and a "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" are emerging as potential "wedge issues" that Weld and other Republicans hope to use to pry away Democratic and independent voters. Former Assemblyman John Faso of Columbia County and Assemblyman Patrick Manning of Dutchess County also have included school choice and spending caps in their platforms.
Developing wedge issues is important for Republicans because Democrats outnumber them in New York 5.4 million to 3.1 million and because polls show Democrats with big leads already in statewide races.
Weld said he would push to give parents tax credits or deductions for their children's education in nonpublic schools and would seek to repeal the "Blaine Amendment," which blocks public dollars from being spent at religious schools.
He proposed limiting campaign spending in statewide races to $3.25 per registered voter (roughly $37 million for the 2006 campaign).
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic frontrunner, leads Weld and other Republicans by 32 to 48 percentage points in polls.
source: http://www.wgrz.com/printfullstory.aspx?storyid=34803