Democrats in the state senate suspect that the Republican majority may be quickly backing away from promises to reform Albany, that they made during last year’s election campaigns and which helped them to win back control of their legislative house.

Just in case they are, the Dems have put together a comprehensive ethics, campaign finance and independent redistricting reform package, which they say will finally deliver the change Albany needs and taxpayers deserve—and they’ve asked their GOP colleagues to join them in passing a series of bills to make the reforms the law in this state.

The package is the same as the one Governor Andrew Cuomo campaigned on during his victorious march into the governor’s mansion in last year’s election. Since then, Cuomo has asked both houses of the state legislature in Albany to join him in supporting those reforms.

Now that the senate Democrats are on board and are urging their Republican colleagues to remember their pledge to enact those reforms, it only remains for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and his Democratic majority to get aboard and bring true reform to Albany.

Incidentally, the Democratic plan to achieve the listed reforms consists of six bills, and three of them are sponsored by Queens Senators Michael Gianaris, Joseph Addabbo Jr. and Malcolm Smith.

The Democrats’ announcement of this ambitious plan noted that in last year’s election campaigns, in which the Republicans came away with a 32-30 edge and control of the senate, 54 senators from both sides of the aisle pledged to reform Albany.

However, the announcement said recent reports indicate that the Republicans, including their leadership, are backing off their promise to voters… They didn’t provide any details to back this up, but recently Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was the featured speaker at a breakfast meeting sponsored by Crain’s, the business weekly newspaper.

In the questioning that followed Skelos’ talk, he was asked pointedly whether he and his members were still prepared to go through with these reforms and Skelos, after refusing to give a direct answer, said lamely, “Well, you know I can’t tell my members how to vote,” or words to that effect which elicited some smiles and chuckles, according to the newspaper.

So now, to renew the people’s call for reform, senate Democrats unveiled a sweeping reform package.

The Democrats’ six point plan consists of the following bills:

1. Create an independent redistricting commission, state Senator Michael Gianaris sponsor.

2. Eliminate pay to play, state Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. sponsor.

3. Implement a clean elections system for public financing, state Senator Malcolm Smith sponsor.

4. Establish an independent commission on government ethics, state Senator Daniel Squadron sponsor.

5. Increase financial and client disclosure requirements, state Senator Gustavo Rivera sponsor.

6. Restrict the personal use of campaign funds, state Senator Liz Krueger sponsor.

Gianaris, an ardent advocate of independent redistricting while he served in the Assembly, stated: “For too long, the people of New York have been shut out from unaccountable representation.” He said the enactment of his bill will send a strong message that we hear the calls of a public restless for change and are ready to rise to the occasion. Presently, the Assembly and senate draw up new election district boundaries.

Addabbo said of his bill to forbid political contributions by businesses that have been awarded state contracts, “Passing this legislation and putting elections back in the hands of voters will not only create a more competitive electoral environment, but produce better representatives for all New Yorkers.”

Smith’s bill would create an agency within the Board of Elections to police the public campaign financing system which would also be established by this proposed law. Any candidate for public office in the state would be entitled to public funds based on a designated number of small contributions. It is estimated that when the program starts in 2014, the total amount of funds to be awarded if every state elected official were to opt in would be approximately $32 million.

Signaling his total support for the package of bills, state Senator Jose Peralta stated: “It’s time to deliver on the pledge that we made to voters to fix Albany.”

MALONEY HAILS NEW IRS BREAK FOR SOME WOMEN: Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D–Queens/Manhattan), a longtime advocate for breastfeeding moms, hailed the recent announcement by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that it will now allow breastfeeding equipment as medical equipment deductions and reimbursable under flexible medical pending accounts.

Maloney had a hand in creating the good news as she and several other Washington lawmakers wrote to the IRS commissioner after it was revealed late last year that the agency had ruled against deductions for breastfeeding equipment and supplies.

Commenting on the tax collector’s turnabout, Maloney said, “This is good news for nursing moms, and a welcome recognition of scientific fact by the IRS: breastfeeding has significant health benefits; it helps prevent disease and is good for moms and babies. Anything we can do to encourage healthy choices is a good thing and this ruling definitely qualifies.”

Maloney in the past authored a law which allows breastfeeding on federal property. And portions of her Breastfeeding Promotion Act were included in the healthcare reform law passed last year.

GENNARO AGREES WITH SPEAKER: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn offered some suggestions to traffic ticket agents in her State of the City address and Councilmember James Gennaro (D–Fresh Meadows) agreed and praised her.

“I am honored to partner with Speaker Quinn and her inspired parking initiatives. My bill will save any residents from receiving a ticket when leaving their car to walk to the muni-meter and will lessen the anxiety that New York City drivers feel on a daily basis,” Gennaro said. “With this package of bills, gone are the days when drivers feel the city is picking at their pocket.”

MENG, KOO PRAISE RKO KEITH VOTE: Flushing lawmakers Assemblymember Grace Meng, a Democrat, and Peter Koo, a Republican, were in full agreement with Community Board 7’s vote to redevelop the RKO Keith Theater site and, in Meng’s words, “establish Downtown Flushing as a cornerstone of Queens”.

Meng said she was pleased that the CB gave careful consideration and approval of this important proposal to redevelop and beautify this historic site.

Meng also praised the inclusion of a senior center in the redevelopment plan, as well as provide a rental apartment building.

Koo said he hoped for a quick start on the redevelopment plan, which still requires approvals from the Board of Standards & Appeals, so that developers can improve its current abhorrent condition. He said he hoped that plan will restore the landmark theater in a fashion that will highlight some of our community’s history. Toward this end, Koo said he was happy that the lobby will be restored to its grand former self.

ADDABBO AGREES ON H.S. REPORT: Commenting on the latest report on high schools in his district, which stretches from Ozone Park/Howard Beach to Glendale and Maspeth, state Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. stated:

“While I am concerned about the conditions mentioned in the report regarding the area’s high schools, I am pleased that the New York State Department of Education Joint Intervention Team has recommended to keep the schools open. I intend to work with the DOE to ensure that the best education possible is provided for the young students and their families. It is time to move ahead and work together to help these students achieve success.”

LIU SEEKS AUDIT REQUESTS FROM PUBLIC: Seeking to bring city residents into discussions of important city issues and a closer relationship with his administration,

City Comptroller John Liu issued a call to the public last week to bring any ideas about audits to his attention and he’ll consider following up on them.

Liu a former Flushing councilmember, made the novel suggestion at a community meeting in Jackson Heights and got some good feedback, according to one one of his spokespersons.

Jeffrey Guyton, of Community District Education Council 30, which covers schools in Astoria, Long Island City, Jackson Heights and Woodside, asked Liu to investigate why the Department of Education did not reach out to the community before issuing a list of schools which it said were underutilized.

In broadcasting his idea at the meeting, Liu said he would follow up on the better ones, especially if they involve saving some of the city’s money or improve the workings of city agencies. Liu added that he would choose ideas from each borough.

Liu’s office said that anyone who missed the Jackson Heights meeting but may want to submit an idea for an audit can do so by going online to www.comptroller.ncy.gov and clicking on the line, OpenAuditNYC.

LIU: ‘ADDED TAX REVENUE NO HELP TO BUDGET’: Commenting on Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s announcement of a proposed $65.6 billion city budget for 2011-12 and his forecast of a $2 billion business tax revenue increase since November, Comptroller John Liu stated:

“As New York emerges from this recession, added tax revenues are certainly welcome, but they are by no means a solution to our problems. Before layoffs are even considered, the city must find savings in our own backyard—including putting an end to runaway contracts that have spent upwards of billions of dollars to employ high-priced consultants.”

Liu continued: “We will continue to identify savings potential at city agencies to ensure that the budget is not balanced in a way that punishes our students, or unfairly singles out our city employees.

There are still many moving pieces and uncertainties in the process, especially at the state level. My office looks forward to reviewing the Mayor’s Preliminary report and presenting testimony in the coming weeks on our findings.”

PERALTA SAYS RAISE TAXES ON HIGH INCOME EARNERS: Declaring that the prospective cuts in the city’s school budget cannot be accepted because of difficult financial times, state Senator Jose Peralta (D–Corona) called for an extension of taxes on high income earners.

Peralta stated: “I stand ready to introduce a bill to extend, not make permanent, the current surcharge on the state’s highest earners, which would generate some $6 billion over the course of the coming and following fiscal years.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo has said several times in recent weeks that he opposes such action and is opposed to any tax increases. Thus to tax or not to tax, or just extend the surcharge, would appear to be a major battle point in budget discussions.