The_AT N.Y_NP1 ._. 
Legislature_NN1 is_VBZ an_AT1 embarrassment_NN1 and_CC must_VM reform_VVI itself_PPX1 Dysfunction_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT new_JJ dysfunction_NN1 ._. 
Released_VVN this_DD1 week_NNT1 ,_, "_" Still_RR Broken_VVN ,_, "_" the_AT third_MD report_NN1 about_II the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 State_NN1 Legislature_NN1 from_II the_AT Brennan_NP1 Center_NN1 for_IF Justice_NN1 ,_, shows_VVZ that_CST the_AT Senate_NN1 and_CC Assembly_NN1 continue_VV0 to_TO act_VVI in_II a_AT1 way_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ not_XX accountable_JJ ,_, representative_NN1 ,_, deliberative_JJ or_CC accessible_JJ ._. 
When_CS we_PPIS2 at_II the_AT Brennan_NP1 Center_NN1 released_VVN our_APPGE first_MD report_NN1 in_II 2004_MC ,_, New_NP1 York_NP1 's_GE state_NN1 Legislature_NN1 was_VBDZ deemed_VVN the_AT most_RGT dysfunctional_JJ in_II America_NP1 ._. 
Little_RR has_VHZ changed_VVN ._. 
However_RR ,_, opportunity_NN1 for_IF real_JJ reforms_NN2 may_VM finally_RR have_VHI arrived_VVN ._. 
The_AT legislative_JJ process_NN1 in_II Albany_NP1 is_VBZ still_RR in_II dire_JJ need_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 overhaul_NN1 ._. 
The_AT leaders_NN2 of_IO the_AT Senate_NN1 and_CC Assembly_NN1 still_RR maintain_VV0 a_AT1 stranglehold_NN1 over_II the_AT legislative_JJ process_NN1 :_: standing_VVG committees_NN2 do_VD0 not_XX hold_VVI hearings_NN2 on_II major_JJ bills_NN2 ;_; there_EX is_VBZ little_JJ or_CC no_AT substantive_JJ debate_NN1 on_II major_JJ bills_NN2 ;_; member_NN1 resources_NN2 are_VBR distributed_VVN on_II the_AT basis_NN1 of_IO party_NN1 ,_, loyalty_NN1 and_CC seniority_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT products_NN2 of_IO the_AT process_NN1 remain_VV0 opaque_JJ ._. 
Some_DD say_VV0 the_AT internal_JJ operating_NN1 rules_NN2 of_IO the_AT Legislature_NN1 are_VBR just_RR so_RG much_DA1 "_" inside_II baseball_NN1 ._. "_" 
We_PPIS2 offer_VV0 a_AT1 better_JJR metaphor_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Legislature_NN1 plays_VVZ a_AT1 "_" sport_NN1 "_" in_II which_DDQ only_RR the_AT captain_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 few_DA2 privileged_JJ players_NN2 have_VH0 access_NN1 to_II the_AT ball_NN1 itself_PPX1 ._. 
Standing_VVG committees_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ should_VM be_VBI the_AT starting_NN1 point_NN1 of_IO all_DB legislative_JJ activity_NN1 ,_, are_VBR a_AT1 prime_JJ example_NN1 of_IO the_AT need_NN1 for_IF rules_NN2 reform_VV0 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 ._. 
In_II Congress_NN1 and_CC other_JJ ,_, more_RGR functional_JJ ,_, state_VV0 legislatures_NN2 ,_, committees_NN2 provide_VV0 a_AT1 venue_NN1 in_II which_DDQ to_TO improve_VVI legislation_NN1 through_II public_JJ debate_NN1 ,_, hearings_NN2 and_CC expert_NN1 testimony_NN1 ._. 
In_II Albany_NP1 ,_, however_RR ,_, committees_NN2 exist_VV0 mainly_RR to_TO fulfill_VVI the_AT procedural_JJ formality_NN1 of_IO bill_NN1 introduction_NN1 ._. 
Albany_NP1 's_GE committee_NN1 structure_NN1 provides_VVZ a_AT1 holding_JJ ground_NN1 in_II which_DDQ leaders_NN2 contain_VV0 bills_NN2 they_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX like_VVI ._. 
As_II a_AT1 result_NN1 of_IO weak_JJ committees_NN2 ,_, rank-and-file_JJ members_NN2 ca_VM n't_XX compel_VVI a_AT1 hearing_NN1 on_II a_AT1 bill_NN1 if_CS the_AT chairman_NN1 opposes_VVZ it_PPH1 ,_, even_CS21 if_CS22 a_AT1 particular_JJ bill_NN1 enjoys_VVZ broad_JJ support_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 need_VV0 legislative_JJ rule_NN1 changes_NN2 --_NN1 now_RT ._. 
The_AT Senate_NN1 and_CC Assembly_NN1 modified_JJ rules_NN2 affecting_VVG committees_NN2 after_II the_AT Brennan_NP1 Center_NN1 's_GE original_JJ report_NN1 in_II 2004_MC ._. 
Presented_VVN as_CSA "_" reforms_NN2 ,_, "_" these_DD2 cosmetic_JJ fixes_NN2 often_RR maintained_VVD the_AT status_NN121 quo_NN122 ._. 
For_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, in_II 2005_MC ,_, the_AT Senate_NN1 removed_VVD language_NN1 from_II its_APPGE rules_NN2 that_CST allowed_VVD proxy_NN1 voting_NN1 in_II committees_NN2 to_TO prevent_VVI members_NN2 from_II voting_NN1 if_CS absent_JJ ._. 
Without_IW an_AT1 explicit_JJ ban_NN1 ,_, proxy_NN1 voting_NN1 has_VHZ given_VVN way_NN1 to_II voting_VVG by_II signed_JJ agenda_NN1 ,_, essentially_RR absentee_NN1 voting_NN1 ._. 
Senators_NN2 can_VM vote_VVI without_IW attending_VVG a_AT1 committee_NN1 meeting_NN1 ,_, by_II sending_VVG their_APPGE individual_JJ voting_NN1 sheet_NN1 by_II fax_NN1 or_CC pony_NN1 express_VV0 ,_, if_CS they_PPHS2 wish_VV0 ._. 
We_PPIS2 found_VVD widespread_JJ evidence_NN1 of_IO absentee_NN1 committee_NN1 voting_NN1 in_II the_AT Senate_NN1 ._. 
Whereas_CS ,_, in_II the_AT Assembly_NN1 ,_, members_NN2 must_VM be_VBI present_JJ to_TO vote_VVI ._. 
Meanwhile_RR ,_, in_II the_AT Assembly_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 rules_NN2 change_VV0 in_II 2005_MC codified_VVD the_AT responsibility_NN1 of_IO committees_NN2 to_TO devote_VVI substantial_JJ efforts_NN2 to_TO oversight_VVI hearings_NN2 to_TO assess_VVI state_NN1 agencies_NN2 and_CC programs_NN2 within_II their_APPGE jurisdiction_NN1 ._. 
Assembly_NN1 committees_NN2 have_VH0 begun_VVN to_TO hold_VVI annual_JJ budget_NN1 implementation_NN1 hearings_NN2 ._. 
For_IF this_DD1 ,_, the_AT Assembly_NN1 deserves_VVZ credit_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB even_RR with_IW this_DD1 change_NN1 ,_, the_AT Assembly_NN1 's_GE Oversight_NN1 ,_, Analysis_NN1 and_CC Investigation_NN1 Committee_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ holds_VVZ occasional_JJ hearings_NN2 ,_, has_VHZ not_XX held_VVN a_AT1 meeting_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE members_NN2 in_II years_NNT2 ._. 
The_AT good_JJ news_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST the_AT Senate_NN1 Democrats_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS fully_RR embraced_VVN every_AT1 call_NN1 for_IF legislative_JJ rules_NN2 reform_VV0 while_CS in_II the_AT minority_NN1 ,_, may_VM take_VVI control_NN1 of_IO the_AT Senate_NN1 in_II the_AT coming_JJ days_NNT2 ._. 
Last_MD year_NNT1 ,_, Senate_NN1 Minority_NN1 Leader_NN1 Malcolm_NP1 Smith_NP1 introduced_VVD a_AT1 one-house_JJ resolution_NN1 that_CST included_VVD many_DA2 of_IO the_AT rules_NN2 reforms_NN2 recommended_VVN by_II the_AT Brennan_NP1 Center_NN1 ._. 
The_AT measure_NN1 failed_VVD along_RP a_AT1 party-line_JJ vote_NN1 ._. 
Smith_NP1 ,_, the_AT likely_JJ incoming_JJ leader_NN1 of_IO the_AT majority_NN1 ,_, has_VHZ expressed_VVN a_AT1 commitment_NN1 to_II rules_NN2 reform_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 has_VHZ repeated_VVN that_DD1 commitment_NN1 ,_, publicly_RR ,_, on_II several_DA2 occasions_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 hope_VV0 that_CST ifthe_VV0 Senate_NN1 leads_VVZ on_II rules_NN2 changes_NN2 ,_, the_AT Assembly_NN1 will_VM follow_VVI ._. 
New_NP1 York_NP1 can_VM not_XX afford_VVI a_AT1 Legislature_NN1 that_CST fails_VVZ to_TO function_VVI for_IF even_RR another_DD1 year_NNT1 --_NN1 much_RR less_RRR another_DD1 five_MC years_NNT2 ._. 
