JCOPE Commissioners Argue Over Hiring Practices, and Outside Influence

At today’s meeting of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) – the first since four Commissioners complained of “incessant interference” with the Commission’s operations – Commissioners argued about its process for selecting a new Executive Director.

JCOPE, which oversees the enforcement of state ethics rules and financial disclosure requirements and regulates lobbying activity, has been perceived as being “close” to the Cuomo Administration. Its first two Executive Directors were members of the Cuomo Administration before joining JCOPE.

The Commissioners who expressed concerns about the board’s hiring practices were appointed by legislative leaders, and the discussion got heated at times.

JCOPE has also been criticized for conducting its business behind closed doors. Today’s discussion, held during the agency’s public session, was an interesting one.

Read news coverage from the AP, the Politics on the Hudson blog, and the Capitol Confidential blog.