Skelos among signers of pledge to reform Albany

  State Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos — and the entire Republican conference — signed New York Uprising's pledges to reform Albany.

"State Senate Republicans appreciate the effort that NY Uprising is undertaking to bring about much-needed reform to the State of New York," said Skelos, who signed the pledge on July 21. "Our Republican conference supports further budget reform, stronger ethics reforms and independent redistricting in line with what NY Uprising is calling for, which is why we decided to sign the NY Uprising pledges."

Founded by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, New York Uprising is a non-partisan coalition dedicated to reforming New York's dysfunctional state government. It is led by Koch along with a board of trustees that includes former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, former New York state Comptroller Ned Regan, former U.S. Congressman 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.

New York Uprising pledges to bring reform to Albany. It has sent pledges to all candidates for office in New York State.

Pledge singers to date include candidates for governor, attorney general, comptroller, the state senate and assembly and congress. Congressional candidates have been asked by NY Uprising to support non-partisan independent redistricting since they are affected by the lines drawn. 

  In recognizing Skelos and his Republican colleagues, Koch said, "The support of Republican Leader Dean Skelos and all of his members joining with New York Uprising is an enormous boost for reform of the dysfunctional legislature in Albany. I am very appreciative of what he and his conference have done. I hope that the Democratic leadership follows suit."