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Post by Swimmy on Jan 5, 2011 8:11:49 GMT -5
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larry
French Fry
Posts: 169
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Post by larry on Jan 14, 2011 2:10:38 GMT -5
Swimmy, unfortunately the Observer-Disgrace wouldn't give him or his ideas the light of day during the election. Now that he isn't a threat to their chosen ones, they'll give him front page coverage. Hennessy and I co-sponsored this same legislation both years I was on the leg and the leadership threw it in the garbage. We also called for no benefits for part-time legislators and they threw that in the garbage too.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2011 11:16:24 GMT -5
lol
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Post by Swimmy on Jan 14, 2011 15:16:24 GMT -5
1. Welcome back.
2. He's been a legislator long before the election, and longer before you served. He's just now pushing the issue to a head?
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Post by stoney on Jan 14, 2011 17:09:33 GMT -5
Oh God. Here we go.  |
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larry
French Fry
Posts: 169
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Post by larry on Jan 14, 2011 19:10:20 GMT -5
Good point, Swimmy. And thank you. I guess some of it has to do with some bitterness from losing the election too, I assume. Before the election everyone plays safe, then they become bulldogs after. Who knows. I just wish, for whatever motives, they would finally get it over with and cut the board.
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Post by stoney on Jan 22, 2011 11:57:26 GMT -5
I understand this was 1st introduced in 2006 by a citizen's committee led by former legislative minority leader Harry Hertline. According to Ed Welsh, the # of legislators can only be changed every 10th year, which is why they are looking at it now. |
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Post by Clipper on Jan 22, 2011 12:34:23 GMT -5
Sounds like a politically motivated law to protect the legislators little corner of the world. The numbers should be able to be changed in any year by referendum put before the voters.
Redistricting is underway in congressional districts, cities and counties around the country are regionalizing and sharing services. Oneida county could probably be divided into only 4 legislative districts. North, South, East and West districts of the county, with a legislator at large to break ties in voting.
The same is true of the city of Utica. place a circle over the map of the city. dissect it with a cross in the middle of the circle, determine where the exact center of the city is, and divide it from there into four segments, North, South, East and West and do away with the rest of the common council, with one at large member to break tie votes. Do away with salary and bennies and make the positions volunteer. Less graft and crooked crap if they are elected because the truly want to serve, without financial incentive to take the job for the money or bennies. Give them $25 for each meeting they attend, to cover their expenses.
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Post by stoney on Jan 22, 2011 13:41:19 GMT -5
Whatever it is, it came up way before Hennessey's latest suggestion.
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larry
French Fry
Posts: 169
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Post by larry on Jan 27, 2011 22:33:54 GMT -5
Actually, it was myself, Hennessy and Joe Furgol that introduced legislation in 2008 and 2009 to reduce the board by 10 members. That was the first legislation to be introduced of its kind since the board was reduced from 37 to 29 in the early 90's.
And you can reduce the number at any time. It is just more convenient to do so every tenth year because you have to redistrict then anyway due to the new census. But it can be done.
So, basically, this is the third time in four years that Hennessy has sponsored legislation to reduce the board. Every time they stall it and say we have to be careful of not making the districts too big. Trust me, it even took some arm twisting for me to get Hennessy on board with this. In 2008, the only ones that supported it was myself and Rick Flisnik, Republican from Marcy. We were chastised by everyone else for even bringing it up.
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Post by stoney on Jan 28, 2011 11:43:37 GMT -5
I understand this was 1st introduced in 2006 by a citizen's committee led by former legislative minority leader Harry Hertline. According to Ed Welsh, the # of legislators can only be changed every 10th year, which is why they are looking at it now. |
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Post by stoney on Apr 9, 2011 10:29:14 GMT -5
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Post by JGRobinson on Apr 9, 2011 14:31:55 GMT -5
I don't care who sponsors it, it sounds like a great Idea to me, Don't stop there...
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Post by stoney on Apr 9, 2011 15:53:01 GMT -5
Agreed, but let's give credit where credit is due.  Actually, Hertline states in his Guest Editorial that he got the ball rolling on this in 1993. He worked very well with the other legislators, even if they were not members of his own party, but he always stuck to his guns. THAT equates to getting things done, not just being an obstructionist in order to inflate one's ego & self-importance.  |
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Post by firstamendment on Apr 9, 2011 20:32:01 GMT -5
There are too many legislators per capita in both Oneida and Herkimer counties. It is why nothing gets done, too many hens in the henhouse trying to rule the roost.
for comparison:
Onondaga County est 2007 pop 454K
In 2001 the legislature was reduced from 24 to 19 and then voters approved a referrendum to reduce it to 17 in 2010.
454K/19 legs=roughly 24K people represented per legislator.
Oneida County
Est population 2007 232K (slightly more than half Onondaga county.
A wopping 29 legislators!
232K/29 legs= 8000 people represented per legislator.
Herkimer County
Est population 2007 62500
17 legislators
62500/17 legs= roughly 3700 people represented per legislator.
Do you think there are too many tax eating politicians out there and not enough results?
Cripes sake, 3700 people represented per legislator in Herkimer County, might as well say every town or village's mayor IS a legislator. Sheesh!
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