Good Government Groups Call for Reforms

Earlier today, the Brennan Center for Justice, Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY, the League of Women Voters and NYPIRG held a press conference at which they “urged the members of the Assembly to use this historic opportunity [to select a new Assembly Speaker] to pass long-overdue reforms that would transform how it conducts business.”

In addition to changing the way the Assembly conducts its business, the groups are also calling for “comprehensive ethics reform,” including:

• Reviewing and overhauling legislative ethics oversight;
• Providing complete transparency in disclosure of outside business clients for all lawmakers;
• Stricter oversight of lobbyists; and,
• Comprehensive changes to the campaign finance system (closing the LLC loophole; lowering contribution limits; strictly controling the “personal use” of campaign contributions; and creation of a voluntary system of public financing of elections.)