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Group: Define Cuomo Girlfriend's Ethics Standing

Governor Andrew Cuomo
Office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a religious-based lobbying group,  wants the Joint Commission on Public Ethics to rule on whether Gov. Andrew Cuomo's girlfriend, Food Network TV star Sandra Lee, should disclose financial information as if she's the governor's wife.

Thursday's request comes after The Associated Press reported the commission authorized Lee to use the state aircraft with Cuomo on official business. It deemed her a "domestic partner" in the "first family." Cuomo and Lee live in Westchester County.

The commission doesn't require Lee to file financial data intended to flag potential conflicts of interest involving elected officials.

Then commission says the Legislature would have to change any requirement.

Cuomo declined comment.

The same group unsuccessfully sued to overturn the legalization of gay marriage championed by Cuomo.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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