Ceretto joins effort to reform state government

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, is helping to promote the launch of a groundbreaking, bipartisan reform coalition,  "Citizens' Committee for an Effective Constitution." CCEC is online, open to the public athttp://effectiveny.org and, according to Ceretto's camp, seeks to deliver a more effective state constitution - one inspired by the needs of New Yorkers in order to bring overdue reform to Albany and help make the Empire State a more attractive place to own and operate a business.

"I applaud Assembly Minority Leader Kolb for leading the CCEC effort, and believe it will be a valuable tool to make necessary changes to our state's constitution in order to reform state government and enhance New York's representative democracy," Ceretto said. "Last year, I hosted a 'People's Constitutional Convention' forum in order to spur discussion on how to transform state government. I look forward to working with Leader Kolb, local leaders and citizens to put these ideas into motion and help change Albany."  

Ceretto noted the goal of CCEC is to restore New York's reputation as the national economic and public policy leader by discussing and debating state constitutional provisions that have contributed to statewide dysfunction, an underperforming economy and a loss of trust by New Yorkers in their state government.

"While the Legislature and governor had a number of legislative accomplishments in 2011, we have only begun to turn the corner on addressing some of the state's long-term and systemic problems," Ceretto said. "I sincerely believe that the best and only way to truly transform state government is to give our citizens a greater voice in reforming the state's constitution."

CCEC is live with an interactive online platform - http://effectiveny.org - to serve as a free, 24-hour-accessible, informational clearinghouse for journalists, elected officials, scholars, policy advocates, citizen activists, interest groups and, most importantly, any New Yorker who wants to learn more about New York government while effecting real and lasting change in the public arena.