Dem Signs On To NY People's Convention Proposal

MICHAEL GORMLEY

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A Republican's proposal to hold a "people's constitutional convention" to overhaul New York state government gained a critical co-sponsor Friday.

Assemblyman Mark Schroeder, an Erie County Democrat, is the first majority member to sign onto the campaign started by Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, a Finger Lakes Republican.

Kolb proposed the constitutional convention to consider sweeping changes to the state's budget process, limits on spending, property tax caps, term limits, and a nonpartisan way to redraw legislative districts that critics say have long been engineered to protect incumbents. He has a half-dozen Republicans on board, although the bill hasn't yet been introduced.

His plan would prohibit politicians, lobbyists and members of special interests groups from being delegates. Instead, New York residents would run for seats in what could be a five-month convention at a legislator's base pay of $79,500 a year.

"I feel we are beyond reform in this state," Schroeder said. "I think the time has come now that people want anybody but us, really, to figure this out."