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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Capital District and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Member Items,
Redistricting,
Opportunity for Youth
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. "007" accounts, better known as member items, account for $200 million in tax payer dollars doled out to individual legislators each year. These pork barrel funds are not covered under New York State's Freedom of Information Laws. Do you support efforts to make the distribution of these funds public record?*
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Answer from Paulette M. Barlette:
I firmly believe that there should be full disclosure of member item fund distribution. Taxpayers have the right to know where their hard earned money is being spent.
Answer from Robert P. Reilly:
We must continue to reform state government to make it open and accountable, and I support public disclosure of member items. I'm also proud that this funding is available because without it many valuable groups would no longer be able to provide essential services that help our community thrive.
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2. Legislative district boundary lines are drawn by the legislators themselves and are tied directly to the advantages of party politics. Would you support the establishment of an independent commission as a more open and ethical way to create districts?*
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Answer from Robert P. Reilly:
The Assembly is holding hearings on redistricting to determine the changes necessary to ensure a fair and efficient process. I am a sponsor of A.6287-A, which would establish an independent reapportionment commission to propose fair and non-partisan district boundaries.
Answer from Paulette M. Barlette:
As an Albany County Legislator, I have experienced first hand the illegal and unethical manipulation of legislative district boundaries to suit party bosses - thus depriving citizens of proper representation and squandering their tax dollars on legal fees/court battles to address this wrongdoing. I favor an independent redistricting process.
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3. Amid the recent reports that more and more young people are leaving upstate cities for better opportunities, what would you propose to reverse this trend?*
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Answer from Robert P. Reilly:
We have begun to rebuild New York, and more specifically the Capital Region, as a technological luminary in the United States. With more and more hi-tech companies, like Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., bringing business to our state we will see growth in all sectors of the economy and workforce.
Answer from Paulette M. Barlette:
First, we have to make living in NYS affordable and that starts with cutting the cost of government. We also need to support and develop projects such as CEG's Beanstalk program, which is a student retention initiative, working with employers and students to foster careers and employment opportunities.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
- Original answers for a published Voters Guide
were limited to 50 words and are presented as submitted. Candidates have
since been invited to supply answers of any length for the Web.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of New York Education Foundation
