Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) stood with his colleagues at a press conference this morning to advocate for passage of legislation (A.8658) that would empower members of the Legislature on both sides of the aisle to override the speaker’s unilateral power to select which bills come to the floor for a vote. This “Spirit of ’76” bill would ensure that legislation sponsored by a majority of the body’s members (76 in the Assembly) would come to the floor for an up-or-down vote.

“This bill epitomizes what democracy is all about,” said Palmesano. “Passing this bill would be a sign to all New Yorkers that we are committed to reforming this house.”

Palmesano noted that many New Yorkers don’t realize that the speaker can keep a bill from coming to the floor regardless of how many sponsors it has.

“In the House of Representatives, if a majority of the members sponsor a bill, they can file a motion to bring it to the floor for a vote even if the speaker of the house doesn’t support it,” said Palmesano. “Why should the speaker of our house be able to overrule the majority of our house’s members? It doesn’t make sense.”

Attendees at the press conference heard a powerful testimonial that shows the danger of resting so much power in so few hands.

Janice Grieshaber-Geddes shared her story. After her daughter, Jenna, was murdered by a parolee in Albany, Janice became a passionate advocate for common-sense criminal justice sentencing reform. The legislation she shepherded through Albany became known as “Jenna’s Law.” She secured 130 sponsors for the bill.

Even with 130 sponsors on the bill, former Speaker Sheldon Silver still prevented it from coming to the floor for a vote at the close of session. After enormous public pressure on the speaker and his rank-and-file majority members, Silver called a special session and finally allowed the bill to come to the floor for an up-or-down vote. The bill easily passed the Assembly and was subsequently signed into law by Gov. Pataki.

“A true representative democracy wouldn’t allow one man to silence the public will,” said Palmesano. “I’m urging all New Yorkers to call your representatives and the leaders in both houses and demand that we make our legislature more transparent, more inclusive and, above all, more fair by supporting the ‘Spirit of ’76’ legislation.”