Jun 24, 2009 6:51 pm US/Eastern
Giuliani To CBS 2: NY's Gov't Doesn't Work
Former NYC Mayor Makes Case For A Constitutional Convention, Calls Senate Drama 'Very Embarrassing'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks during a campaign stop Jan. 28, 2008, at the Fort Myers Internation Airport in Ft. Myers, Fla.
Daniel Barry/Getty Images
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani is going on the record, and he's in a New York state of mind.
Giuliani is calling for a Constitutional Convention, which would give specifically elected delegates the power to change the way Albany works. And he says there's no time like the present.
He spoke to CBS 2 from his Times Square office after writing an op-ed in the New York Times about the chaotic situation in the state Senate, which he believes is an embarrassment.
"[It's] obviously very embarrassing. It was hard to focus on it, and not think this is one of the more embarrassing moments in terms of state government," Giuliani said. "It's gonna require both the members of the Assembly and state Senate to put the interests of the state ahead of their own self-interests, and that's what New York needs to see."
Giuliani admits the chance of sweeping reform in state government is slim, but he feels now is the time.
"If you're not supporting this, I don't know what else you're supporting to reform state government. And if you're not in favor of reforming state government, I think there is a good chance you're not going to get re-elected," he said. "What they're counting on, a lot of them are counting on, is the public forgets about this and then re-elects them anyway. I think this is so severe, a lot of these people aren't gonna get re-elected unless they start supporting a major reform of state government."
So what is Giuliani's real motivation behind Wednesday's op-ed?
"I'm trying to send out one singular, simple message: we need a Constitutional Convention, and if you're opposed to it, then tell me what you want to do to fundamentally reform state government," he said. "Because there's no one in this state who thinks that our state government works, because it just doesn't work."
Could the article be Giuliani's way of saying he's ready to take a run at governor of New York?
"I think that is something I'm not going to address myself to right now. I'm a pretty confident person, so I generally answer that question, 'Yes,' but I think at this point I'm gonna rest on the merits of this particular argument."
This is far from a quick fix. A Constitutional Convention would require voters' approval at the polls in November. If it proceeds, voters wouldn't select the delegates until November of 2010.
The Democrats issued a response, calling Giuliani's plan a way to layout his multi-year campaign agenda.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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