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Ethics Reform: Get It Done

We hope Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie didn’t hurt themselves patting themselves on the back over the state’s “ethics reform agreement” they trumpeted last week.

Don’t get us wrong – there are some good things in the proposal that should become law. Pension forfeiture for those convicted of public corruption should happen. Per diem reform is a no-brainer. Personal use of campaign funds is already against the law, as evidenced by federal charges against former Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey.

Democrats suffer from premature celebration calling this an agreement since the state Senate isn’t part of the deal. The Senate’s silence on the matter means Cuomo and Heastie don’t have an agreement, but instead an interesting proposal. It is one of three ethics reforms proposals floating around Albany.

Cuomo and Heastie propose disclosure of outside income that includes naming clients, including clients of the Legislature’s lawyers, for payments above $5,000; verifying per diem travel expenses; a constitutional amendment to strip those convicted of public corruption of their government pensions; limits on the use of campaign funds; and a mandatory disclosure of campaign spending not coordinated by candidates but which can support their platforms. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, want to mandate a public listing of spending by state officials, including the executive branch. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman wants a complete ban on outside income for legislators; a cap on per diem reimbursements; more equitable division of funding among legislators; giving legislators the power to bring a proposal to a floor vote; and to increase the terms of lawmakers from two to four years. Assembly Republicans had a laundry list of 13 rule changes that made a lot of sense voted down a couple of weeks ago.

This year is like most other years in that there is never a lack of proposals. The problem is cutting through the posturing and self-interest to actually arrive at a meaningful bill. For what it’s worth, ethics reform must include pension forfeiture, per diem reform, greater transparency on the part of the executive branch, an impartial and well-funded unit similar to JCOPE or a Moreland Commission to investigate public corruption and enforce existing laws that are too often flouted (like those banning personal use of campaign funds) and term limits for legislative leadership positions.

Reaching agreement on a bill that accomplishes those initiatives will be worthy of a pat on the back. Until then, Cuomo and Heastie should get back to work. Their job is not yet finished.

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