Citizens Union Calls on City Board of Elections to Modernize Reporting of Unofficial Results on Election Night
July 17, 2012 - Good Government Group provides legal justification for implementing changes administratively without amending state law.
Citizens Union and Civic Groups Defends NYC Campaign Finance System in Amicus Brief, Ognibene v. Parkes
July 2, 2012 - New York City’s model public financing system must be upheld, replicated statewide. Good Government Groups file brief in Ognibene v. Parkes.
Citizens Union Calls For Strong And Full Disclosure Of Funders To Organizations That Lobby In Testimony Before The Joint Commission On Public Ethics (JCOPE)
June 7, 2012 - Citizens Union testified today before the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), calling on the state’s ethics body to promulgate rules that will robustly disclose donors to lobbyists and clients.
Recent Redistricting Rulings Show How Our Laws Allow Partisan Gerrymandering and Why Permanent Reform Was Needed
May 4, 2012 - These decisions demonstrate more clearly than ever before that we could not have relied on the courts or the Justice Department to correct our fatally flawed redistricting process.
Citizens Union Announces Participation In Fair Elections Campaign In Needed Push For Campaign Finance Reform
April 18, 2012 - Diverse coalition represents unique opportunity to achieve much-needed campaign finance reform that includes public financing.
New York State should replicate city’s successful matching system that empowers small donors, closes loopholes, robustly enforces the law and ends pay-to-play culture.
Citizens Union State Budget Reform Report Card: Two “I”s for Improvement, but Still Incomplete
April 11, 2012 - Report card finds mixed results in state’s implementation of 2007 budget reforms. Further reforms needed to enhance transparency, integrity, and efficiency of budget process.
Citizens Union Commends City Agreement Allowing Civilian Police Complaints To Be Prosecuted Independently
March 28, 2012 - Large number of CCRB substantiated cases in which recommended penalties are downgraded. Agreement will bring greater independence and transparency to the handling of police misconduct.
Citizens Union Opposes Proposed Budget Language Allowing For Executive Transfer Of Funds Without Legislative Approval
March 23, 2012 - Calls on Governor and Legislative Leaders to Address State Government Efficiency Concerns through Separate Legislation Modeled on NYC Budget Process.
Citizens Union Also Urges Three-Day Aging for Final Budget Bills.
Good Government Groups Call on Albany to Use Information Technology to Make State Government More Transparent
March 22, 2012 - Good Government Groups call for new Transparency for NY State Government. Use information technology to open NY State government.
Citizens Union: Today’s Special Election Results In Nearly One-third Of All Sitting State Legislators Having Been First Elected In A Special Election
March 20, 2012 - Undemocratic party nomination process undermines competition for vacant open seats and chooses insiders beholden to party interests, not voters.
Reforms needed to open up the process of filling vacancies.
Citizens Union urges the legislature to take up bills proposed by Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries and Linda Rosenthal.
Citizens Union Backs Lew Fidler In Senate District 27 Special Election
March 14, 2012 - Fidler's commitment to reform campaign finance and restore integrity to representation in the district key factors in endorsement.
Experienced Lawmaker would bring needed Gravitas to Albany.
Citizens Union And League Of Women Voters New York State Support Just Released Constitutional Amendment To Permanently Reform Redistricting Process
March 12, 2012 - Proposal creates independent commission to draw state legislative and congressional district lines.
Creates a more inclusive and independent commission while discouraging gerrymandering in future map drawing.
Citizens Union and League of Women Voters Announce Joint Support for Permanent Redistricting Reform
March 8, 2012 - Governor-negotiated constitutional amendment, mirroring statute, and improved 2012 district lines represent best reform option.
Court-drawn Congressional Maps Show Why Lasting Redistricting Reform Needed
March 6, 2012 - Citizens Union urges Governor and Legislature to act now to improve maps for 2012 and enact permanent constitutional and statutory changes.
Redistricting Experts Call For Governor To Use Veto Threat To Achieve Permanent Redistricting Reform During Briefing Held By Citizens Union
February 28, 2012 - "A Veto is Essentially A Spanking - It Stings, But It is Temporary."
Former NY Attorney General Robert Abrams: Strongest Legal Path To Redistricting Reform Achieved Through A Constitutional Amendment And Statute To Ensure Amendment’s Passage
February 24, 2012 - Former AG details legal framework for a constitutional amendment and statute.
Citizens Union Issues Letter Calling On Governor Cuomo To Use Veto Power To Achieve Two Important Redistricting Reform Goals: Lasting Redistricting Reform And Better 2012 Maps
February 23, 2012 - Good Government Groups wants Governor to seize the moment and seek permanent constitutional reform. LATFOR drawn maps demonstrate why fundamental and lasting redistricting reform is needed.
Citizens Union Commends Appointment Of Ellen N. Biben To Head JCOPE
February 2, 2012 - Experienced prosecutor has the needed integrity to head new ethics body charged with enforcing state's new ethics law.
Citizens Union Calls Latfor Gerrymandered Maps The Inevitable Consequence Of A Politicized Process
February 2, 2012 - Draft maps manipulate population deviation to maximize majority power. Opportunity to elect districts falls short of creating a legislature reflecting the state's diversity.
Good Government Group's testimony before LATFOR follows appearance in Albany criticizing LATFOR for unnecessarily dividing cities and counties and violating the state constitution's requirement for compact districts.
ReShapeNY Calls For Impartial Redistricting Process Before 2012 Maps Are Finalized
January 11, 2012 - Redistricting reform must be top reform priority as legislature returns to Albany. Legislators must finally honor commitments to voters to regain public trust.
Citizens Union Applauds Governor Cuomo’s Support For Campaign Finance Reform
January 4, 2012 - Establishment of a campaign finance system based on New York City model will build on Cuomo's first-year accomplishments in changing Albany's culture.
Citizens Union Applauds Us Court Of Appeals Decision Upholding City Campaign Finance Law
December 21, 2011 - Doing business limitations remain an important component of city's robust campaign finance program
Citizens Union Commends City Board Of Elections For Putting Sample Ballots Online For Election Day
October 25, 2011 - Citizens Union Commends City Board Of Elections For Putting Sample Ballots Online For Election Day.
Citizens Union Calls For New Way On Redistricting Reform
September 21, 2011 - Urges state legislature to return to Albany for a special session to pass redistricting reform. New two-step proposal would involve acceptable reform in 2012 and constitutional amendment passage bringing about permanent reform.
Citizens Union Analysis: Gerrymandering In Queens Has Resulted In Representation That Does Not Reflect Borough’s Diversity
September 7, 2011 - Calls on legislators to return to Albany to pass redistricting reform at hearing in Queens. Party-controlled and partisan body continues with the status quo redistricting process.