Responding to Lawmaker Bribery Cases

In the wake of the multiple indictments announced last week by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Gov. Cuomo is reportedly “discussing several legislative and policy options to address corruption in the capital.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, one option is the appointment of a Moreland Act Commission that would look into the Legislature. Other options under consideration include campaign finance reform, preventing lawmakers from earning any “outside” income (which would reduce potential conflicts of interest), and making it easier for the state to prosecute public corruption cases, such as bribery.

There is no shortage of potential reforms. Republican New York City mayoral candidate Joseph Lhota would cap limits on party donations. Republican consultant William O’Reilly feels that New York City’s public financing system bears some blame, even as reform advocates push for such a system to be adopted by the state. The editorial board of the Albany Times Union says that the practice of political party cross-endorsements – which New York is one of the few states in the nation to allow — should be ended.

This will obviously be an issue for the Governor and lawmakers as they move into the post-budget phase of the 2013 legislative session.