ethics

Paul Elisha: Change

Paul Elisha — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:35:00 +0000

This Commentator had decided to devote his essay for today to the two documents which have hung above the desk in his work space, since they were awarded to him, by then Governor Mario M. Cuomo, for his participation and help in achieving major ethics legislation in New York State, on August 7^th, 1987. He was going to note how time and trials had wrought changes, which made these documents less important mementos of prior, experience and would then, perhaps, look forward to another time, for yet another, more important change. This might even surpass what was then achieved, to legislate even more important advances in governmental ethics. Alas, it now appears that this will not occur.

Board Of Elections Reform Seen As Key In Albany

Karen DeWitt — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:15:00 +0000

Anti-corruption proposals are proliferating in Albany, following two high-profile bribery scandals. Some of them focus on the long-neglected State Board of Elections, which hasn’t even had an investigator on staff in over a year.

The State Board of Elections is supposed to make sure that elections run smoothly and that all the rules, including the campaign financing laws, are followed by candidates and their donors.

Reform groups say Cuomo's plan to empower DA's is a good first step

Karen DeWitt — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:13:39 +0000

Government reform groups say they are pleased that New York Governor Cuomo has now proposed step one in his plan to clean up corruption in state government, following two high profile arrests of state lawmakers.

Barbara Bartoletti, with the League of Women Voters, says the governor’s proposal to give the state’s district attorneys more power to investigate and prosecute bribery cases is a good first step toward systematic reform.

Cuomo proposes empowering DA's to help fight political corruption

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:06:00 +0000

New York Governor Cuomo and the state’s district attorneys are pushing for laws to make it easier to prosecute bribery and public corruption cases, in the wake of recent scandals in Albany.

The bills would make it easier for the state’s DA’s to prosecute cases of bribery, and politicians and others involved in bribery schemes. It would also create a new crime of failure to report bribery. Anyone who does not blow the whistle if they discover potential corruption could be charged with a misdemeanor.

The Book Show #1263 - Randy Cohen

Joe Donahue — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:06:00 +0000

The New York Times Magazine's original "Ethicist" Randy Cohen helps readers locate their own internal ethical compasses as he delivers answers to life's most challenging dilemmas.

Bill Mahoney - The New York Public Interest Research Group

Brian Shields — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:15:00 +0000

The latest round of financial disclosure forms from members of the New York State Legislature will be the last, before a new law begins that aims to open up even further the information the public and the press can view about the outside business dealings of state lawmakers.

NYS Ethics Panel Meets Amid Controversy

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:45:49 +0000

The head of the state ethics commission, Janet DiFiore, says she has “done nothing wrong”, after allegations she used her influence as Westchester County DA to obtain welfare benefits for her maid. DiFiore spoke after a lengthy closed door session of the ethics commission. Capitol Correspondent Karen DeWitt reports…

NYS Ethics Commission Pursues Complaint against Libous

Tristan O'Neill — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:51:44 +0000

On the heels of former New York State Senate leader Pedro Espada’s conviction, the state’s ethics commission is pursuing a complaint against one of Albany’s most prominent lawmakers. WAMC's Tristan O'Neill reports...

Paul Elisha: ETHICS!

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:34:57 +0000

From the outset of this anomalous experiment in government of, for and by its people, vocabulary has been an essential ingredient; the distillate of how things are accomplished. Out of its need, grew the absolutely necessary First Constitutional Amendment that ensured freedom of expression. Today, that freedom is an endangered species. An explicit word, once a cornerstone of the experiment, has been banned. The word is: “ETHICS.” As an act of civil disobedience, this commentator will now repeat it:

NY Board Won't Disclose Hire Record

Tristan O'Neill — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:31:54 +0000

New York's powerful new ethics board has refused to release to the public any record of the secret vote to hire a longtime aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo as its $148,000-a-year executive director. WAMC's Dave Lucas has more...

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which has broad powers to investigate legislators and other officials, denied The Associated Press request for the records under the state Freedom of Information Law.

The board voted February 2 to hire Ellen Biben.