Senator Terry Gipson’s Vampire Voting Act Receives Endorsement From Public Interest Groups

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2013
Media Contact: Jonathan Heppner | 845.463.0840 | heppner@nysenate.gov

SENATOR TERRY GIPSON’S VAMPIRE VOTING ACT RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT FROM PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS

ALBANY, NY -- New York’s Common Cause, the League of Women’s Voters (NYS), and the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) released a statement in support of Senator Terry Gipson’s Vampire Voting Act. The proposed legislation would prohibit voting in either house between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., excluding procedural measures.

“I am pleased to see support for the Vampire Voting Act from these distinguished groups. It sends a clear message that the passage of this common sense legislation should be a no brainer for my colleagues to serve the public interest,” said Senator Terry Gipson (D-Rhinebeck).

The statement in support of this bill by Common Cause, the League of Women’s Voters, and NYPIRG echoed the Senator stating, “At a time where it is commonplace for members of the press and elected officials to call for greater public civic engagement, conducting debates and votes on bills between midnight and 8 a.m., when most New Yorkers are asleep, speaks louder than any rhetorical calls for greater public involvement.”

“We must fight for transparency in our government and encourage the public’s desire for civic engagement. When we vote on legislation that directly affects the lives of New Yorkers while they are asleep, we cut them out of the process,” said Senator Gipson.

Senator Gipson has strongly opposed these “vampire votes” since joining the legislature in January, most notably during the recent budget process. “I strongly believe that we must push aside party politics and reform our current process to ensure we are doing the best possible job as legislators,” Senator Gipson concluded.

The Vampire Voting Act is on the scheduled agenda of the Senate Investigations and Government Operations committee for Tuesday, April 16th 2013 at 12:30 p.m.

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