E.N.D. BACKS "FEARLESS" RICE IN ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE AS “STRONG LEADER WHO WILL EFFECT CHANGE IN ALBANY", ENFORCE LAWS—“IT'S TIME TO GET IT RIGHT”.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 13, 2010 -- SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2010, NEW YORK, N.Y. JOINING COMPTROLLER JOHN LIU IN ENDORSING KATHLEEN RICE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, END DISCRIMINATION NOW RELEASED A STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT KATHRYN JORDAN ANNOUNCING THAT HER ORGS (E.N.D. AND JUDICIAL REFORM NOW) WILL BACK RICE AS THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL.

“THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOB IS THAT OF SUPER PROSECUTOR. IT REQUIRES SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE AND UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT NEGOTIATING "COMPROMISES" THAT UNDERCUT THE POWER OF OUR LAWS. ALBANY IS IN CHAOS BECAUSE OF A LEADERSHIP VACUUM. MR. CUOMO PROMISES TO TAKE ON THAT CORRUPTION AND WILL NEED A STRONG PARTNER. KATHLEEN RICE HAS BOTH THE EXPERIENCE AND TRACK RECORD FOR THAT JOB. WE LIVE IN PERILOUS TIMES WHERE SECURITY AND SAFETY ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE PEACE OF MIND OF ALL NEW YORKERS. I BELIEVE MS. RICE WILL TAKE A TOUGH STANCE AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME AND ENSURE THAT WOMEN, CHILDREN, THE DISABLED, FAMILIES AND THE ELDERLY ARE PROTECTED FROM PREDATORS. MS. RICE IS ALSO MORE QUALIFIED TO TACKLE PUBLIC CORRUPTION WHICH HAS SIPHONED OFF BILLIONS IN TAX PAYER FUNDS. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM NEW YORK STATE FACES TODAY IS THAT MOST OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS MIRED IN CORRUPTION, CRONYISM, KICK-BACKS, COUPS, FAVOR PARSING, AND DEALS. WE BELIEVE KATHLEEN RICE WILL PUT AN END TO ALL OF THAT AND STAND UP TO CORRUPT LEADERS WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE OR JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.
IN TOUGH TIMES, WE NEED A STRONG LEADER WHO WILL FIGHT, NOT COMPROMISE, FOR OUR CIVIL RIGHTS.” KATHLEEN HAS PROVEN TO BE A FEARLESS LEADER WHO WILL NOT BACK DOWN. SHE HAS TAKEN ON DRUG DEALERS, MEDICAID, SEXUAL PREDATORS, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND WHITE COLLAR CRIMINALS.

AS FOR SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN, JORDAN STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN A “BRILLIANT SENATOR” AND “A STATESMAN WITH A GREAT POLITICAL FUTURE” AND URGES THE NYS SENATE TO ESCALATE HIS POSITION. “AT MINIMUM HE SHOULD BE APPOINTED CHAIRMEN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE", WHERE JORDAN BELIEVES A STRONG LEADER WHO HAS BOTH LEGAL SKILLS AND SAVIOR FAIRE TO NAVIGATE THE SENSITIVE LANDSCAPE AMONG JUDGES, LAWYERS, LAYPEOPLE, EXPERTS, AND CONSULTANTS, IS NEEDED. ERIC IS A BORN LEADER AND THE SENATE SHOULD NOT LOSE HIM. HE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE ASSET.”
JORDAN WHO HAS ADVISED FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES ABOUT THEIR CORPORATE AND BRAND STRATEGIES, AND HAS HELD EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN TOP BRAND COMPANIES AND AD AGENCIES IN THE PAST, HAS HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING ORGANIZATIONS AND “TALENT”. SHE ALSO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE NYS SENATE LAST JULY ABOUT JUDICIAL CORRUPTION. JORDAN EXPLAINED THAT “THIS IS ABOUT STRATEGIC RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT. YOU PUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT JOBS. YOU DON’T VOTE FOR SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE THEM. YOU VOTE FOR THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON. IN THIS ECONOMY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE MISTAKES”.

RICE CERTAINLY HAS THE CHOPS FOR THE JOB AND VERY SPECIFIC PLANS ABOUT HOW TO ERADICATE CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT. RICE HAS PUBLICLY PROMISED TO:

 EMPOWER THE AG. RIGHT NOW – UNDER EXECUTIVE LAWS §63-C, §63(3), AND §63(8) – THE AG CAN PROSECUTE CASES OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION ONLY IF EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUND, OR INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ONLY WHEN REQUESTED TO DO SO BY THE GOVERNOR. THE EXECUTIVE LAW MUST BE AMENDED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO HAS SUGGESTED SO THAT THE AG WOULD NOT NEED APPROVAL FROM THE GOVERNOR TO INVESTIGATE CORRUPTION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT OR ITS OFFICIALS.

 THE EXECUTIVE LAW SHOULD ALSO BE CHANGED TO ALLOW THE AG TO INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE VIOLATIONS OF ELECTION LAW, INCLUDING CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES. RIGHT NOW, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS’ CAMPAIGN FINANCE UNIT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE AND PUNISH VIOLATORS OF ELECTION LAW.

 CREATE A SINGLE, INDEPENDENT STATE ETHICS COMMISSION. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON PUBLIC INTEGRITY AND LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION ARE CHARGED WITH POLICING ETHICS IN ALBANY—BUT THE VERY ELECTED OFFICIALS THEY ARE MEANT TO MONITOR ALSO APPOINT THEM. RICE SUPPORTS A “SINGLE UNIFIED SYSTEM”OVERSEEING (OAG) LOBBYISTS, CONTRIBUTORS, STATE CANDIDATES, STATE CONTRACTORS, STATE EMPLOYEES, STATE OFFICERS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

 MANDATE FULL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FROM STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AS OUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES UNLESS WE ARE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THEIR FINANCIAL INTERESTS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO HAS SHOWN HOW A VIGILANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, FOCUSED ON GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION, CAN USE THE OFFICE TO EFFECTIVELY INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE OFFICIALS WHO BREAK THE PUBLIC TRUST. A NUMBER OF STATUTES – SUCH AS THE TWEED LAW (EXECUTIVE LAW §63-C) ALREADY EMPOWER THE AG TO PURSUE CASES AGAINST CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND ENTITIES THAT RECEIVE TAXPAYER SUPPORT. CONTINUING THE OFFICE’S EVOLUTION INTO STATE STREET’S BEAT-WALKING COP WILL TAKE AN AG WHO CAN BUILD ON AND HONE CURRENT USE OF THESE LAWS, AND ALSO RE-INVENT THE OFFICE TO ADJUST TO NEW THREATS.

RICE ALSO PROMISES TO:

1) HOLD PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SECRET SPENDING. ASIDE FROM MEMBER ITEMS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STATE EMPLOYEES ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT DISCRETION TO SPEND TAXPAYER FUNDS ON THEIR OWN, WITHOUT EVEN THE TRANSPARENCY OF A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STATE EMPLOYEES WERE GRANTED TRAVEL, LODGING, MEAL, AND PER DIEM EXPENSES TO THE TUNE OF HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

2) EXPAND THE AG POWERS. THE TWEED LAW GRANTS THE AG BROAD POWERS TO RECOVER ANY GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN “WITHOUT RIGHT OBTAINED, RECEIVED, CONVERTED, OR DISPOSED OF” BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND TO HOLD CULPRITS PERSONALLY LIABLE—BUT EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING MUST FIRST BE FOUND IN ORDER TO PURSUE A CASE.

3) CALL FOR A STANDING AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPTROLLER, THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, THE LEGISLATURE, AND ALL STATE AGENCIES TO ALLOW AND AID ANY INVESTIGATION BY THE OAG – UNDER EXECUTIVE LAWS §63(3) AND §63(8) – TO SEEK OUT AND IDENTIFY FRAUDULENT OR INAPPROPRIATE SPENDING BY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. IF A REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE IS DENIED BY AN EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE LEADER OR DEPARTMENT HEAD, THOSE OFFICIALS NOT ALLOWED TO BE INVESTIGATED WOULD GO AN AG’S “MOST WANTED” LIST.

4) FORCE LEGISLATORS TO DISCLOSE ALL FUNDING REQUESTS. THANKS TO ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO’S PROJECT SUNLIGHT, CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF INFORMATION ABOUT GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS. RICE WANTS TO TAKE THAT IDEA ONE STEP FURTHER TO ENSURE THAT WELL-CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE RECEIVING MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

5) REQUIRE THAT ALL GROUPS THAT APPLY FOR DISCRETIONARY FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE PART OF THE DATABASE IN REAL TIME, INSTEAD OF POSTING THE INFO OF THOSE WHO RECEIVED FUNDS AFTER THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT. THAT WAY, THE PEOPLE CAN EVALUATE THEIR REPRESENTATIVES’ DECISIONS AND THE AG WOULD BE ABLE TO FLAG POTENTIALLY TAINTED FUNDING DECISIONS BEFORE THE MONEY GOES OUT.

6) CREATE A SPECIAL DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR PUBLIC INTELLIGENCE TO INCREASE AND CAPITALIZE ON CASES BROUGHT BY WHISTLEBLOWERS. WHETHER THEY ARE A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, IN PRIVATE BUSINESS WITH THE STATE, OR JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN, A WHISTLEBLOWER IS OUR BEST ALLY TO EXPOSE CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT AND TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

E.N.D. URGED ALL NEW YORKERS TO “GET OUT AND VOTE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL POSITION WILL FILL THE OPENING CREATED BY MR. CUOMO’S DEPARTURE, BIG SHOES TO FILL IN AN IMPORTANT YEAR. THE POWERS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INCREASE WHEN MR. CUOMO BECOMES GOVERNOR. MS. RICE WAS MR. CUOMO’S CHOSEN RUNNING MATE AND SHE HAS THE CHOPS TO MAKE THE TOUGH CALLS.

"i ADMIRE AND RESPECT SENATOR SCHEIDERMAN AND HIS RECORD OF REFORM IN THE SENATE. BUT THE AG WORLD IS ROUGH AND TUMBLE, AND I CANNOT SEE HIM BEING AS EFFECTIVE THERE AS MS. RICE.", JORDAN EXPLAINED.

“RICE, BECAUSE IT’S TIME TO MAKE IT RIGHT”. JORDAN URGED.

More information can be found online at http://www.kathleenrice.com

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