ALBANY, N.Y. -- Former New York City Mayor and one-time Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is calling for a state constitutional convention to make sure a Senate stalemate doesn't happen again.

He said it would smooth out procedural issues, like replacing the lieutenant governor and could also tackle issues such as term limits, campaign finance reform and changes in the way the state's budget is passed.

"It is right now in the best interest of the state that we have a constitutional conventional, fundamental reform in the way we do business, and hopefully that kind of thinking has a chance of succeeding in Albany," said Giuliani. "If it doesn't, then you tell me what else can be done to fundamentally change this form of governing that isn't working."

Giuliani goes on to say that the proposal is for the good of the state, not his own political ambitions.

He said, "This is a proposal I would've made whether the question of running for governor was out there, not out there. It's something that should be done. It is true that the impasse that's taken place and the embarrassment for the state is the proximate motivation for it. But this is something that should've been done 10 years ago."

A constitutional convention would have to be approved by both the Legislature and the voters.

Meanwhile, Governor Paterson said he commends Giuliani for his ideas, but cautions that now may not be the time.

In a statement, Paterson said, "We need to bring real reform to Albany before we can move forward with a constitutional convention. This is the only way to ensure that the process will not be dominated by the same special interests that have caused the dysfunction and gridlock we are seeking to change."