Assemblyman Bing, Expect a Call

We were very happy to see this in the Gay City News:

As for political reform in Albany, Bing said he supports the leading proposals put forward by the NYU Law School’s Brennan Center for Justice

We assume this means the Assemblyman supports our call for real reform in the way the legislature operates: to make it more transparent, publicly deliberative and accountable.

We must admit, though, that we were a bit surprised by this comment from the Assemblyman:

“Even though I am an NYU Law graduate, no one from the Brennan Center has ever spoken to me,” he said. “Very few of the good government groups have spoken to me and other junior members of the Legislature to have a discussion of how things really work and what we’re able to get done.”

In fact, the Brennan Center relied quite heavily on conversations and interviews with junior legislators (from both chambers)in putting together both its 2004 and 2006 reports on how the legislature functions (and doesn't). And (not suprisingly) many of the loudest complaints about the way the legislature operates came from these junior members.

It is true that Assemblyman Bing was not one of the Assemblymembers we interviewed (we couldn't get to everyone). But we take these comments as an invitation to call him today. We'll keep you posted!

Categories: General, Legislative Rules