SERINO’S RECALL BILL CLEARS SENATE

ALBANY, NY—Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) announced that her legislation aimed at ensuring government truly works for the people by giving voters the ability to recall their state elected officials passed in the Senate last night.

 “If we are serious about putting an end to Albany’s pervasive culture of corruption, we need to put real power directly into the hands of the people to ensure that those elected officials who brazenly violate the public’s trust can be held accountable,” said Serino who has been vocal in calling for ethics reform since taking office.

Serino’s bill (S. 8069) would amend the State Constitution to allow New Yorkers to utilize a direct vote to remove elected officials from office before their term has ended. The legislation would allow for the recall of any Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, State Legislator, County Executive, Mayor or Town Supervisor who has been indicted for a felony or convicted with a misdemeanor related to their public office.

“Because this bill would represent significant institutional change should it become law, by passing it in the Senate last night, we sent a clear message that we stand ready to make real reform happen before the end of this Legislative Session,” Serino continued. “It is my hope that we continue down this path today and give the people of New York the ethics reform that they so desperately want and deserve.”

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