By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-961298.mp3
Albany, NY – New York moves closer to state ethics reform: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver tells the New York Daily News that he and Governor Andrew Cuomo have come to an agreement on an ethics reform bill. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
Silver tells the newspaper that Cuomo and Assembly Democrats have had a deal for weeks now but the Governor wanted to keep legislators focused on getting the budget finished before pushing the Senate on the issue. With the state budget out of the way, getting a new ethics law on the books moves to the top of the Governor's "to do" list. Blair Horner, Legislative Director of the New York Public Interest Research Group, says the speaker and the Governor have been on the same page when it comes to ethics reform. Under the new ethics law, legislators would be required to publicly disclose a range of outside income. Those who are lawyers would have to make public any clients with state business, and there are additional reporting requirements for lawmakers who take home at least $100,000 or have a 10% equity stake in their firms.
Observers believe Cuomo would prefer a single independent body policing the executive branch and overseeing the legislature. The agreement would keep the Public Integrity Commission intact: it would be empowered to investigate the Legislature and refer any findings to district attorneys or the Legislative Ethics Commission for possible action. Should talks with the Senate stall, Silver thinks it's possible a bill based on the agreement with the governor could be printed and passed by his house to up the pressure. Cuomo has warned if an acceptable bill is not adopted by the end of the legislative session in June, he will establish a special commission to investigate the Legislature. New York State League of Women Voters Executive Director Barbara Bartoletti suggests legislators would be wise to pass an Ethics bill sooner rather than later. Calls to Governor Cuomo's office were not returned in time for broadcast.