On November 5, voters across the state will be asked to pass or defeat six
constitutional amendments appearing on this year’s ballot. Below is the NYS
Conservative Party’s position on each. I fully concur with their stance on
each proposition.
-Carl PaladinoMost of the summaries are straight forward, however the most controversial proposal, asking voters to approve or disapprove casino gambling (Proposal #1), is written to suggest that approval will lower your taxes and provide more money to your schools. It is permitted to present a one-sided view; however, it certainly is deceptive since the language in the Bill passed by the Legislature does not include the benefits the proposal suggests the voters will receive if approved.
The New York State Conservative Party recommends a NO vote on Proposal #1.
For Proposal #2, we recommend a YES vote; Proposal #3 a NO vote, Proposal #4 a YES vote, Proposal #5 a YES vote and Proposal #6 (raising the retirement age of Judges) a NO vote.
Our positions are stated in the following 4-page synopsis of the 6-ballot proposals for 2013.
Synopsis is as follows:
Conservative Party Positions
on 2013 Statewide Ballot Questions
PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE, AN AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE CASINO GAMING
The
Conservative Party recommends a NO vote on Proposal Number One.
Authorizing Casino Gaming
The proposed amendment to
section 9 of article 1 of the Constitution would allow the Legislature to
authorize up to seven casinos in New York State for the legislated purposes of
promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local
governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated. Shall the
amendment be approved?
The Conservative Party of New
York State, since its inception in 1962, has promoted job growth through lower
taxes, encouraged localities to lower taxes and believe that schools should
provide a solid education for our youth. The Conservative Party has been
consistent in its Legislative Program calling for the need to reduce taxes and
promote job growth and has stressed if we fail to provide jobs and remain a
high tax state, we will lose our citizens to states with less taxes. The
proposed amendment, while it paints a rosy picture, will not accomplish the
stated goal. Casino Gambling will produce new problems as evidenced in the
areas where casinos are currently located. In 1966, the Legislature told New
York citizens, if they approved the Lottery, their school taxes would be
reduced. Every year school taxes go up, despite the millions people spend on
lottery tickets. It is time to close the money spigot that gives the
legislature more money to spend.
PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO, AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL SERVICE CREDITS TO DISABLED VETERANS
The
Conservative Party recommends a YES vote on Proposal Number Two.
Additional Civil Service Credit
for Veterans with Disabilities Certified Post-Appointment
The proposed amendment to
section 6 of article 5 of the Constitution would entitle a veteran who has
received civil service credit for a civil service appointment or promotion and
subsequently is certified as disabled to additional civil service credit at a
subsequent appointment or promotion. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
The Conservative Party of New
York State holds our disabled veterans in the highest regard and is cognizant
of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom for their fellow citizens.
PROPOSAL NUMBER THREE, AN AMENDMENT TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS
The
Conservative Party recommends a NO vote on Proposal Number Three.
Exclusion of Indebtedness
Contracted for Sewage Facilities
The proposed amendment to
Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution would extend for ten years, until
January 1, 2024, the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to
exclude from their constitutional debt limits indebtedness contracted for the
construction or reconstruction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed
amendment be approved?
This proposal first went into
effect on January 1, 1962 and has been renewed repeatedly since then. The
Conservative Party does not approve of government entities separating out
certain debts from their constitutional debt limit as it does not give a true picture
to its citizens as to the total indebtedness of the locality, therefore we
cannot support this proposal.
PROPOSAL NUMBER FOUR, AN AMENDMENT TO SETTLE DISPUTED TITLE
IN FOREST PRESERVE
The
Conservative Party recommends a YES vote on Proposal Number Four.
Settling Disputed Title in the
Forest Preserve
The proposed amendment to
section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to
settle longstanding disputes between the State and private entities over
ownership of certain parcels of land in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton County.
In exchange for giving up its claim to disputed parcels, the State would get
land to be incorporated into the forest preserve that would benefit the forest
preserve more than the disputed parcels currently do. Shall the proposed
amendment be approved?
The State Constitution
generally forbids the lease, sale, exchange, or taking of any forest preserve
land. The proposed amendment would allow the Legislature to settle 100-year-old
disputes between the State and private parties over ownership of certain
parcels of land in the forest preserve by giving up the State's claim to
disputed parcels. In exchange, the State would get land to be incorporated into
the forest preserve. The land exchange would occur only if the Legislature
determines that the land to be conveyed to the State would benefit the forest
preserve more than the disputed parcels do.
PROPOSAL NUMBER FIVE, AN AMENDMENT TO EXCHANGE LAND
TO NYCO MINERALS, INC.
The
Conservative Party recommends a YES vote on Proposal Number Five.
In Relation to a Land Exchange
in the State Forest Preserve with NYCO Minerals, Inc.
The proposed amendment to
section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to
convey forest preserve land located in the town of Lewis, Essex County, to NYCO
Minerals, a private company that plans on expanding an existing mine that
adjoins the forest preserve land. In exchange, NYCO Minerals would give the
State at least the same amount of land of at least the same value, with a
minimum assessed value of $1 million, to be added to the forest preserve. When
NYCO Minerals finishes mining, it would restore the condition of the land and
return it to the forest preserve. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
As with proposal number four,
the State Constitution generally forbids the lease, sale, exchange, or taking
of any forest preserve land. NYCO Minerals is a producer of wollastonite, a
mineral that has industrial importance worldwide. In the United States,
wollastonite is mined in Willsboro, New York and Gouverneur, New York. This
proposed amendment would allow NYCO Minerals to expand and explore for the
mineral, keep people employed and still protect the forest preserve.
The
Conservative Party recommends a NO vote on Proposal Number Six.
Increasing the Age until which
Certain State Judges Can Serve
The proposed amendment to the
Constitution, amending sections 2 and 25 of article 6, would increase the
maximum age until which certain state judges may serve as follows: (a) a
Justice of the Supreme Court would be eligible for five additional two-year
terms after the present retirement age of 70, instead of the three such terms
currently authorized; and (b) a Judge of the Court of Appeals who reaches the
age of 70 while in office would be permitted to remain in service on the Court
for up to 10 years beyond the present retirement age of 70 in order to complete
the term to which that Judge was appointed. Shall the proposed amendment be
approved?
(Additional information on
other side)
Currently
a Justice of the Supreme Court is eligible for three additional two-year terms
after the present retirement age of 70, this proposal would allow them to serve
an additional 4 years while also allowing a Judge on the Court of Appeals to
remain in service for up to 10 additional years. The Conservative Party
acknowledges that citizens are living longer and healthier lives; however,
there is no imperative need to keep judges on the bench for extended terms
while electing new Supreme Court Judges. A Court of Appeals Judge is appointed
and we strongly believe the citizens should elect all judges and be responsible
to the citizens, therefore we reject extended the term of the Members of the
Court of Appeals.
CPNYS POSITIONS
ON 2013 BALLOT PROPOSALS:
PROPOSAL #1 –
NO
PROPOSAL #2 –
YES
PROPOSAL #3 –
NO
PROPOSAL #4 –
YES
PROPOSAL #5 –
YES
PROPOSAL #6 –
NO
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