A movement is underway in Albany for a constitutional amendment to allow for recall elections of disgraced politicians. Under proposed Republican legislation in the state Assembly, a recall process would be initiated if a petition gathers signatures equivalent to 20 percent of the last vote for the office in question. Once those signatures are certified, the governor would set a date for a recall election where voters would decide if the official should be removed from office.
Republican Assemblyman John Ceretto (R,I-Lewiston) says the People should have the right to decide whether politicians involved in scandals keep their jobs.
"There's something very serious that's going on in New York State where the confidence of the elected officials on the state level has been going down. This particular legislation would empower voters to make the last call. If we don't do our job, as Donald Trump says, 'You're fired,'" Ceretto said.
Nineteen other states currently allow for recall elections. In a recent Siena College poll, 91 percent of New York voters said they believe corruption in the state legislature is a serious problem.
"This is a great first step in reforming the way that things are operating here in Albany," said Assemblyman Ray Walter (R,C,I-Amherst).
Senator Malcolm Smith of Queens and Assemblyman Eric Stevenson from the Bronx are both facing charges in separate bribery scandals.
