The New York State Capitol Building in Albany
New York voters will have the once-in-a-generation opportunity Tuesday to vote for or against holding a state constitutional convention. Most local lawmakers are against the “Con-Con,” saying special interests could hijack the process, but Pricilla Grim with good-government group Citizens Union says a constitutional convention could take on issues that the state legislature consistently fails to address.
There’s also opposition from civil liberties groups, labor unions and environmental groups, who fear that the process would jeopardize rights in the current document. Grim thinks those fears are unfounded. She notes that citizens have three opportunities to vote in the process.
Grim adds that the turmoil from the last presidential election has sparked widespread interest in getting involved in the political process.
Governor Andrew Cuomo initially supported holding a constitutional convention, but has since expressed reservations, and the leaders of both houses of the legislature oppose it. The last Con-Con was held in 1967.
Comments