Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is calling for a state constitutional convention to fix what he calls New York’s dysfunctional government.

Giuliani is making the case for a constitutional convention as the state Senate remains mired in a power struggle that has halted legislative action for more than two weeks.

A convention would give specially elected delegates broad powers to change the rules controlling government in Albany. Staging a convention would require approval from both the Legislature and the state’s voters.

Giuliani laid out his case in an opinion piece in The New York Times on Wednesday. He says issues that could be brought up include term limits, campaign finance reform and changes in the way New York adopts its budget.

After talks of a power-sharing arrangement broke down, Democrats locked themselves in the Senate chamber on Tuesday, while Republicans tried to conduct business on their own and none of the “people’s business” got done.

Gov. David Paterson meanwhile has called for state senators to return for a second special session on Wednesday in Albany.

(Source: CBS2 HD)