Ethics Reform Update

Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports that the ethics reform bill – apparently being negotiated behind closed doors – will not address enforcement of the state’s campaign finance laws.

Negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders have focused on the degree to which legislators will be required to disclose their outside income, as well as how the ethics laws will be enforced.

Common Cause New York wants to see an ethics reform bill improve enforcement of the state’s campaign finance laws as well. NYPIRG has asked the state Board of Elections (BOE) to review over 6,000 possible campaign finance law violations, but says that BOE doesn’t have the staff to do the job properly.

The 2010 ethics reform bill vetoed by Governor Paterson (A.9544 of 2010, Veto #1) would have established a new Legislative Office of Ethics Investigations. This entity would have been responsible for investigating and enforcing ethical standard for legislators and staff.  The vetoed bill would also have created and funded a dedicated enforcement unit within the BOE.