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For immediate release: Wednesday, March 30th, 2011Contact: Adam Riff, NY Uprising, 805-743-3743, adam@nyuprising.org

NEW YORK UPRISING RESPONDS TO INACCURATESTATEMENTS MADE BY DEAN SKELOS

Yesterday on NY1, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos addressed the issue of whether hewould take up independent redistricting now that a budget agreement has been reached. Hesaid he would not, and further, made several inaccurate statements."Dean Skelos has disgraced himself by repudiating his written pledge," said

former NYCMayor Ed Koch, founder of New York Uprising

. "After claiming for weeks that theSenate would address the issue of redistricting as soon as a budget was passed, he is nowbacking out of that promise too. Dean Skelos is foolishly ignoring the mandate whichreturned his conference to the majority last year: a mandate for Albany reform."The following "myths" are direct quotes Senator Skelos provided in the interview, followedby "facts" provided by New York Uprising.

SKELOS MYTH #1

"Appointments were going to be 6 Democrats and 2 Republicans, that's certainly notnonpartisan." (Regarding the nominating committee for the independent commissionproposed by the Governor.)

Fact:

The governor's proposal requires 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans on the nominatingcommittee that appoints members of the commission (which is "double-blind" to preserveindependence). Each of the four legislative leaders makes one appointment from their ownparty, and the Governor makes four appointments of which two are required to be from eachparty. Governor Cuomo has even agreed to allow Skelos to name the two RepublicanGubernatorial appointments, effectively giving him the most appointments of all.

SKELOS MYTH #2

"You can't delegate away that authority." (Regarding the constitutionality of creating anindependent commission.)

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Fact:

Quoting Mayor Koch's recent Daily News op-ed: "That's merely a diversion on hispart. A red herring. Sand in your eyes. It's also a surprising argument from him, since henever raised it during the several times we spoke when he signed the pledge to fight for independent redistricting. Neither did any of his colleagues when I stood with them on thecampaign trail. Indeed, last year Skelos sent a letter accompanying his pledge (available atnyuprising.org). It stated: "Our Republican conference supports . . . independentredistricting in line with what your organization is calling for." The pledge is very specificin its requirements for independence. And the pledge is very specific in calling for legislation to pass this year. Virtually every other good government organization supportsindependent redistricting and believes that it's constitutional. So does our reform-mindedgovernor, who made it a cornerstone of his proposed redistricting legislation, and has saidrepeatedly that he will veto any proposed redistricting that is not independent."

SKELOS MYTH #3

"Congressman Weiner and Senator Schumer have agreed that the Koch proposal is not theway to go."

Fact:

This one is actually true, and it reinforces New York Uprising's effort as strictlynonpartisan. Redistricting, as it's currently done, isn't about protecting Democrats or Republicans. It's about protecting incumbents -- the ones who follow-the-leader. Goodgovernment (which Albany is not known for) requires a level playing field, not one drawnto keep incumbents in power.

SKELOS MYTH #4

"That issue is over with."

Fact:

Governor Cuomo has said he will veto any proposed redistricting that is not done byindependent means, and if no new lines are drawn and approved in time for the 2012elections, the courts will draw the lines for us (that's an independent commission of another sort). Of course, New York Uprising's efforts remain directed toward achieving theindependent commission which a majority of lawmakers pledged to support.New York Uprising, founded by former NYC Mayor Ed Koch, is a non-partisan coalitiondedicated to reforming New York's dysfunctional state government. It is led by Mayor Kochalong with a Board of Trustees that includes former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former NYS Governor Mario Cuomo, former NYS Comptroller Ned Regan, former USCongressman Herman Badillo, former Ambassador Felix Rohatyn, former Deputy Mayor Alair Townsend, former Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington, former Deputy Mayor Peter J.Solomon and former Deputy Mayor John Zuccotti.

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