Senate Dems To Hold 'Interactive' Forum On Ethics Tomorrow

by: phillip anderson

Tue May 03, 2011 at 17:42:13 PM EDT

Glad to see my former colleagues still working hard to use new media tools to bring more people into the process, especially on this issue. From the Wall Street Journal:

New Yorkers long fed up with the behavior of politicians in Albany are expected to get a chance to tweet their opinions on a myriad of bills aimed at cleaning up state government.

New York's Senate Democrats plan what they claim will be the first ethics discussion in Albany in which New Yorkers will be able to comment through the Internet. Wednesday's forum will use a technology that will likely include Twitter to allow New Yorkers statewide to comment on the Democrats' proposals.

The bills include creating a nonpartisan commission to redraw election district lines, stripping convicted elected officials of their pensions, and restricting the use of campaign funds.

Democratic Sen. Daniel Squadron of Manhattan said the Democratic minority called the session because the Republican majority has so far refused to grant them a public hearing on ethics bills.

"It will be the first forum that will be interactive," Squadron said. "When you talk about reform, we're taking the bull by the horns, because the Republicans won't take it up."

The forum is scheduled for noon Wednesday in Albany.

I've got a pretty full plate tomorrow, but I'm going to try and host the Livestream and tweet some questions (and I've got plenty of them.) I hope you'll also have some time to make your voice heard as well.

Senator Squadron and Senate Democrats to Hold First-Ever Interactive Ethics Forum

Livestream and audience-tweeted questions empower unprecedented public participation to reform Albany

(Albany, NY) Answering the public's call for immediate action on ethics reform, Senator Daniel Squadron, joined by members of the Senate Democratic Conference will hold the first ever interactive public forum on ethics reform on Wednesday, May 4th, in Albany.

Despite overwhelming public support, Senate Republicans continue to stall progress and refuse to allow public hearings on key ethics legislation. To break the Albany logjam and increase public participation, Senate Democrats will convene their own interactive ethics forum broadcast live over the Internet accepting viewer-submitted questions via Twitter, LiveStream, Facebook and E-Mail.

Under Senate Rule VII Section 4(b), the public forum will include discussion of legislation under the jurisdiction of the Investigations and Government Operations Committee and other proposed bills including:

Establishing an independent commission on governmental ethics (S31/Squadron);

Increasing financial and client disclosure requirements (S382/Rivera);

Stripping pensions of public officials convicted of misusing their office (S2333/Krueger);

Restricting the personal use of campaign funds (S3053/Krueger); and

Eliminating Pay-to-Play (S1565/Addabbo).

Using new media and social networking tools to open up government and engage the public in an unprecedented effort to reform Albany, Senate Democrats will:

Stream video and audio in real time, launching their own LiveStream channel; Broadcast live updates on Facebook, LiveStream and Twitter, and live photostreaming to TwitPic; and Accept real time questions from the public to be used by Senators during the forum via @NYSenDems and the hashtags #AlbanyEthics and #NYSenate, and via NYSenDems@gmail.com.

State Senator Daniel Squadron said, "For Albany to do the people's business, we must change the way Albany does business. Most of the way through the legislative session, we have yet to see any action on the fundamental reforms that almost every Senator has pledged to support. Passage of a real ethics package will lend much-needed transparency and accountability to our state government, helping restore New Yorkers' trust and allowing us all to better tackle the dire challenges facing our state."

"With this first-ever interactive forum on ethics, we are bringing the public into the conversation. Live video and twitter will give all New Yorkers an important opportunity to listen, to ask questions, and to join us in demanding action on these vital reforms," said Squadron.

WHO:

Senator Daniel Squadron

Senator Liz Krueger

Senator Gustavo Rivera

Senator Joe Addabbo

Senator Tony Avella

Senator Neil Breslin

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky

Senator Velmanette Montgomery

Members of the Senate Democratic Conference

ATTENDEES:

Brennan Center for Justice

Citizens Union

Citizen Action of New York

Common Cause NY

League of Women Voters of New York

NYPIRG

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4th 1 PM (or immediately following the conclusion of session)

WHERE: Hearing Room A in the LOB

To watch the forum live online, please visit http://www.livestream.com/NYSenDems.