Calls for Ethics Reform Follow Conviction of Former Assembly Speaker

In the wake of the recent jury verdict that former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is guilty of extortion, honest-services fraud and money laundering, there have been a number of calls for yet another round of reforming the state’s ethics law.

NYPRIG’s Blair Horner calls for limiting lawmakers’ income; closing the LLC loophole; and overhauling the state’s ethics watchdogs.

Citizen’s Union’s Dick Dadey recommends raising legislator salaries and limiting the amount of outside income they can earn; ending government spending “that takes place in the shadows”; and closing the LLC loophole.

The Brennan Center’s Lawrence Norden wants to see campaign finance reform that includes lower campaign contribution limits and a small donor matching system

The Buffalo News editorial board calls for closing the LLC loophole; and either requiring disclosure of all sources of legislator income or prohibiting outside employment.

The Crain’s editorial board wants to make lawmakers full-time, ban outside income and raise their base pay from $79,500.

Former Assemblyman Michael Benjamin (D-Bronx) recommends that lobbyists and clients (those who are required to register with the Joint Commission on Public Ethics) should be required to sign a code of conduct that includes whistleblowing when having direct knowledge of corruption and influence-peddling.

Current State Senator John Bonacic (R- Orange County) calls for a ban on lawmakers earning income from “active employment” other than their government jobs.

Tom Stebbins of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of NY (LRANY) urges reforms of the legal system, including reasonable controls on medical liability payouts; reforming the Scaffold Law; and opening up the asbestos trusts to transparency.

But in his initial comments on the Silver conviction, Gov. Cuomo indicated that that he does not plans to push for another round of ethics reforms. He said that he had done what he could by pushing for what he characterized as “the strongest laws in the history of the state of New York.”

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan told reporters that while he sees the former Speaker’s conviction as leading to discussion of ethics reforms, he does not support the idea of a full-time Legislature.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie noted that the Assembly has created an Office of Ethics and Compliance, enhanced its per diem reimbursement policy, and has approved a bill that would close the LLC loophole, among other campaign finance reforms.