GOING PUBLIC — In Rochester, Bob Beckwith and John Demsey talk with Sen. Joe Robach (Right).  Photo by John Prince

Go Public campaign building momentum every day

By SHERRY HALBROOK
With the state’s 2005 legislative session scheduled to end June 23, PEF’s Go Public campaign for enactment of four “Accountability Bills” is heading into the homestretch.

It will peak this month as members pour into Albany to rally at the Capitol on June 8.

“We are reaching a critical turning point in this campaign,” said PEF President Roger Benson. “I hope every member, every retiree and every citizen of this state recognizes how important it is to restore accountability to state government and public services. If they do, they will turn out on June 8 and demand the enactment of these bills.”

The union held Go Public forums last month in every region of the state so PEF’s local leaders and members could talk directly to their representatives in the state Legislature about the need to pass the Accountability bills.

In Region 3, two of the legislators — Assembly Member Susan John and state Sen. Joseph Robach — who came to the Rochester forum are sponsors of the legislation. 

John sponsored bill A.01259 in the Assembly. This bill, which has picked up four co-sponsors in that house, is also being sponsored by state Sen. Nick Spano in the Senate. (See related article.) The legislation would require the state to conduct cost-benefit analyses to prove savings or meet other criteria before deciding to hand off state work to private contractors.

Robach’s bill, S.1920, would require state agencies to keep track of how many contract employees they have working for them and how much they are spending on those contracts. This bill is also being sponsored by state Assembly Member Donna Lupardo. And she turned out, along with fellow Assembly member Clifford Crouch for the Region 5 forum in Binghamton.

Any lawmakers who couldn’t make it to their local forums still had plenty of chances to learn about the bills. They all received packets from PEF with a full-color brochure about the legislation and a DVD featuring Robach, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., PEF President Roger Benson and others discussing the abuses and issues that have spotlighted the need for legislation to ensure greater accountability in the provision of public services.

The lawmakers are also being constantly reminded by PEF’s Go Public TV and newspaper ad campaign. 

And, never forgetting that nothing tops one-on-one conversations with their constituents for getting legislators to focus on issues, PEF has begun sending out its cadre of political action liaisons (PALs) to meet with their legislators in person on these and other bills. (See related article.)

The Communicator June 2005
Inside This Issue
Features
Nurses' Rally to end mandatory OT
Go Public:
- Building momentum every day
- Assemblyman leading the charge
- Senator pushes accountability bill

Departments
President's Message
Legislative Action
Member's Mailbag
Member Mobilization
Retirees In Action
PEF Membership Benefits &Travel

Union Matters
Members unite to stop DOL move
Union tries to keep services afloat
Labor honored at Somos El Futuro
Taking action to stop funding cuts
SBUH members flying air rescue
Extension for parole pistol permits
Elections held for  E- Board

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