According to the state constitution, every 20 years New York voters are asked to give thumbs up or down on a simple referendum: “Shall there be a convention to revise the constitu- tion and amend the same?” The question will appear at the top of the ballot on Nov. 7, 2017. “They say there are pros and cons to every issue,” said NYSUT Vice President Paul Pecorale, “but I see only cons in this ‘Con Con.’” THREE key reasons Here are three key reasons why a state constitutional convention should be rejected: 1. The constitution establishes the basic organizational structure for state government as we know it. A convention would place everything on the table and delegates would have the power to swipe away any of the policies, programs and protections we might take for granted. For example, the delegates — who could be political party appointees or even sitting elected officials — could decide to alter the balance of power. With enough votes, they could give much more power to the executive branch and significantly weaken the role of the Legislature. We all know how much the Legislature has done to amend and repair the damaging executive budget proposals we’ve seen in recent years. Concentrating unchecked power could be a disaster. 2. The constitution establishes the fundamental rights every NYSUT mem- ber enjoys as a citizen of the state, as a public employee or as a retired public employee. It guarantees the right of all state residents to a free public education; establishes your rights to be a member of a union and to bargain collectively; prohibits reductions in public pension benefits; provides workers compensa- tion; and requires that the state provide for social welfare needs. It provides the “Forever Wild” statute that protects the Adirondack and Catskill parks. Imagine New York State without those things. 3. The constitution sets the most important policy goals for the people of New York State. Any changes would affect every other law in place, as well as future statutes. Think about what happened in 1967: Voters approved the call for a convention and what resulted was a number of bad constitutional proposals, including a repeal of the “Blaine Amendment,” which prohibits the use of state monies to assist religious schools. That issue continues to be debated to- day, and NYSUT annually fends off efforts by privatization advocates and religious schools to establish backdoor voucher schemes funded by the state. The catch 50 years ago was that, after voting to authorize a constitutional convention, voters had the opportunity to accept or reject the proposed changes. New Yorkers rejected the convention’s proposed revisions, including a repeal of the Blaine Amendment. Had voters not rejected the repeal of Blaine, public ed- ucation would look very different in New York State today. “In an off-election year, the referendum on a constitutional convention is going to be one of the biggest votes our members face, and we need to get out the vote and defeat it,” said NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta. The CON in the constitutional convention This article reprinted from NYSUT United, June 2016. Say NO to a Constitutional Convention!
Transcript
According to the state constitution, every 20 years New York voters are asked to give thumbs up or down on a simple referendum: “Shall there be a convention to revise the constitu-tion and amend the same?”
The question will appear at the top of the ballot on Nov. 7, 2017.
“They say there are pros and cons to every issue,” said NYSUT Vice President Paul Pecorale, “but I see only cons in this ‘Con Con.’”
three key reasonsHere are three key reasons why a
state constitutional convention should be rejected:
1. The constitution establishes thebasic organizational structure for stategovernment as we know it. A conventionwould place everything on the table anddelegates would have the power to swipeaway any of the policies, programs andprotections we might take for granted.
For example, the delegates — who could be political party appointees or even sitting elected officials — could decide to alter the balance of power. With enough votes, they could give much more power to the executive branch and significantly weaken the role of the Legislature. We all know how much the Legislature has done to amend and repair the damaging executive budget proposals we’ve seen in recent years.
Concentrating unchecked power could be a disaster.
2. The constitution establishes thefundamental rights every NYSUT mem-ber enjoys as a citizen of the state, as a public employee or as a retired public employee.
It guarantees the right of all state residents to a free public education; establishes your rights to be a member of a union and to bargain collectively; prohibits reductions in public pension benefits; provides workers compensa-tion; and requires that the state provide for social welfare needs. It provides the “Forever Wild” statute that protects the Adirondack and Catskill parks. Imagine New York State without those things.
3. The constitution sets the mostimportant policy goals for the people of New York State. Any changes would affect every other law in place, as well as future statutes.
Think about what happened in 1967: Voters approved the call for a convention and what resulted was a number of bad constitutional proposals, including a repeal of the “Blaine Amendment,” which prohibits the use of state monies to assist religious schools.
That issue continues to be debated to-day, and NYSUT annually fends off efforts by privatization advocates and religious schools to establish backdoor voucher schemes funded by the state.
The catch 50 years ago was that, after voting to authorize a constitutional convention, voters had the opportunity to accept or reject the proposed changes. New Yorkers rejected the convention’s proposed revisions, including a repeal of the Blaine Amendment. Had voters not rejected the repeal of Blaine, public ed-ucation would look very different in New York State today.
“In an off-election year, the referendum on a constitutional convention is going to be one of the biggest votes our members face, and we need to get out the vote and defeat it,” said NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta.
What you need to knoW
The CON in theconstitutional convention
This article reprinted from NYSUT United, June 2016.
Say NOto a
ConstitutionalConvention!
Say NOto a
ConstitutionalConvention!
VOTE-COPE is the New York State United Teachers’ political action fund.
Contributions or gifts to VOTE-COPE are not deductible as charitable contributions
for federal income tax purposes.
The undersigned authorizes the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) or the New York State Employees’ Retirement System (NYSERS) to deduct from each of my regular defined-benefit pension payments the sum of q$10, q$5 or qOther $____ (per month) and to forward that amount to VOTE-COPE, P.O. Box 5190, Albany, NY 12205-0190. I understand that this monthly amount will continue to be deducted until revoked by me in writing.Such guidelines are merely suggestions. NYSUT members are free to contribute more or less than the guidelines suggest, and NYSUT will not disadvantage anyone by reason of the amount of their contribution or decision not to contribute. Contributing to VOTE-COPE is voluntary, and NYSUT members may refuse to contribute to VOTE-COPE without reprisal. Contributing to VOTE-COPE is not a condition of membership in any labor organization. VOTE-COPE may use the money it receives to make political contributions and expenditures in connection with federal, state and local elections.
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and send it in with your check or credit card information in the
enclosed postage-paid envelope.
Dear NYSUT Retiree,
While this election year is very important for everyone in the country, the votes you cast next year will be just as significant because that’s the year New York state voters decide whether to hold a Constitutional Convention.
As a retiree, you depend on your pension to provide you with security in your retirement. With the 2017 Constitutional Convention vote just around the corner, and the language that protects your retirement security hanging in the balance, it’s never been more important for you to give to VOTE-COPE.
We’re the union. We fight for one another.
Please give what you can so that our voice will be heard.
Andrew PallottaSecretary-Treasurer of VOTE-COPE
NYSUT VOTE-COPEP.O. Box 295
Canajoharie, NY 13317
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Or, visit www.nysut.org/votecope
We go back a long way
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qI belong to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS)
qI belong to the New York State Employees’ Retirement System (NYSERS)
I hereby request monthly withholding of union deductions from my monthly benefit as permitted by Section 536 of the Education Law and Section 110-C of the Retirement Social Security Law. NYSTRS or NYSERS is authorized to continue taking such deduction until NYSUT receives written notice from me to the contrary.
UNION BUG HERE
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Please read and sign the reverse side.
To receive your wall calendar, based on your total VOTE-COPE contribution amount for the year, mail your annual contribution to VOTE-COPE by Dec. 31, 2016.
Your 2016 VOTE-COPE annual contribution amount is your combined contribution throughout 2016 via check, credit card or pension deduction.
Calendars are made in the USA and will be mailed in Spring 2017 to the address we have on file.
If you have any questions regarding the VOTE-COPE Retiree Reward, please contact Karen Rhatigan at 518-213-6000, ext. 6013, or [email protected].
This 16-month wall calendar will be sent to all retirees who donate a total of $120 or more to VOTE-COPE during 2016.
UNION BUG HERE
September 2017 –December 2018
Our way of saying Thank You!VOTE-COPE Retiree RewardOur way of saying Thank You!
VOTE-COPE Retiree Reward
According to the state constitution, every 20 years New York voters are asked to give thumbs up or down on a simple referendum: “Shall there be a convention to revise the constitu-tion and amend the same?”
The question will appear at the top of the ballot on Nov. 7, 2017.
“They say there are pros and cons to every issue,” said NYSUT Vice President Paul Pecorale, “but I see only cons in this ‘Con Con.’”
three key reasonsHere are three key reasons why a
state constitutional convention should be rejected:
1. The constitution establishes the basic organizational structure for state government as we know it. A convention would place everything on the table and delegates would have the power to swipe away any of the policies, programs and protections we might take for granted.
For example, the delegates — who could be political party appointees or even sitting elected officials — could decide to alter the balance of power. With enough votes, they could give much more power to the executive branch and significantly weaken the role of the Legislature. We all know how much the Legislature has done to amend and repair the damaging executive budget proposals we’ve seen in recent years.
Concentrating unchecked power could be a disaster.
2. The constitution establishes the fundamental rights every NYSUT mem-ber enjoys as a citizen of the state, as a public employee or as a retired public employee.
It guarantees the right of all state residents to a free public education; establishes your rights to be a member of a union and to bargain collectively; prohibits reductions in public pension benefits; provides workers compensa-tion; and requires that the state provide for social welfare needs. It provides the “Forever Wild” statute that protects the Adirondack and Catskill parks. Imagine New York State without those things.
3. The constitution sets the most important policy goals for the people of New York State. Any changes would affect every other law in place, as well as future statutes.
Think about what happened in 1967: Voters approved the call for a convention and what resulted was a number of bad constitutional proposals, including a repeal of the “Blaine Amendment,” which prohibits the use of state monies to assist religious schools.
That issue continues to be debated to-day, and NYSUT annually fends off efforts by privatization advocates and religious schools to establish backdoor voucher schemes funded by the state.
The catch 50 years ago was that, after voting to authorize a constitutional convention, voters had the opportunity to accept or reject the proposed changes. New Yorkers rejected the convention’s proposed revisions, including a repeal of the Blaine Amendment. Had voters not rejected the repeal of Blaine, public ed-ucation would look very different in New York State today.
“In an off-election year, the referendum on a constitutional convention is going to be one of the biggest votes our members face, and we need to get out the vote and defeat it,” said NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta.
What you need to knoW
The CON in the constitutional convention
This article reprinted from NYSUT United, June 2016.
