Readers Write: Constitutional Convention an expensive waste of time

The Island Now

I have been wondering why our Nov. 7, 2017 election ballot will have to be turned over to its backside to finish voting. 

It just so happens our vote, involving whether or not a Constitutional Convention in New York State should take place, is on the backside of the New York State ballot on Election Day, 2017. 

What I don’t have to wonder about is why I believe it is important to vote, NO, on the proposal to have a Constitutional Convention in New York State for numerous reasons. 

It seems that, during the last convention, the majority of delegates were career politicians and Albany insiders and, every politician who ran for a delegate seat that year seems to have won a delegate seat. 

It seems all the convention leaders were sitting legislators.  Please keep in mind that, thanks to the Citizens United decision, corporate special interests can spend unlimited money getting cronies elected.

A much cheaper process, other than a Constitutional Convention, exists already to amend the state constitution and, apparently would not cost taxpayers any extra money. 

For instance, New York State voters approved a Constitutional amendment in 2013 to expand casino gambling.  This same process could be used for any new amendments without incurring the excessive and wasteful costs of a possible partying-mentality convention.

The last time a New York State Constitutional Convention was held it was a total failure as voters rejected every proposed constitutional change. 

What a waste of taxpayers’ money, money that could have been better invested in schools, infrastructure improvements, and tax cuts.

It is estimated a Constitutional Convention would cost hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, as, apparently, lawmakers can double-dip.  It seems lawmakers can collect both salaries and pension credits as elected officials and as delegates simultaneously.   Also, as Constitutional conventions seemingly do not have mandatory end-dates (the last Constitutional Convention ran for over five months), delegates can keep meeting, while taxpayers keep paying.

In summary, it seems a Constitutional Convention reeks of being a real boondoggle.  

I, for one, am voting no on the backside of the Nov. 7, 2017 ballot.

Kathy Rittel

East Williston

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