Ballot Propositions – Attorney General Candidate Views



We’ve asked both candidates for attorney general, Democratic incumbent Eric Schneiderman and Republican challenger John Cahill, for their positions on each of the three ballot propositions on the November ballot. If approved by voters those propositions will: 1) Create a redistricting commission to draw the new state legislative and House of Representatives’ district lines every 10 years, with the commission members appointed by the state legislative leaders, 2) amend the current constitutional requirement of distributing paper versions of proposed bills to state legislators to allow for electronic distribution and 3) authorize New York State to borrow up to $2 billion for school funding, with a stated purpose of “improving learning and opportunity for public and nonpublic school students”, including the purchase of equipment, expanding school broadband access, building classrooms for pre-K and replacing trailers and installing “high-tech security features.”

Schneiderman declined to give a position on any of the the propositions, citing his office’s role in drafting them.  Cahill opposes the first and third propositions, creating a redistricting commission and approving the bond issue, but has not yet taken a position on the second proposition, allowing electronic bills in the legislature.  We spoke with Schneiderman today in White Plains as he left a Schneiderman/DiNapoli campaign rally.  We spoke with Cahill in Poughkeepsie on Tuesday.

Gubernatorial candidate positions are here.  Comptroller candidate positions are here. One lieutenant governor candidate’s position is here.