Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has released a package of reforms for the State Legislature. The proposed legislation is probably dead on arrival, however, since it includes public financing of campaigns.
Schneiderman unveiled his End New York Corruption Now Act this morning. It’d give the attorney general’s office the ability to investigate and prosecute public corruption, which it doesn’t currently have authority to do, according to a press release from Schneiderman’s office. The act contains more than a dozen other changes to state law. The changes include:
- Banning legislators from earning outside income. Good-government groups have called for the prohibition because the earnings can create conflicts of interest for legislators;
- Banning per diem expense payments to legislators for days they spend in Albany. Critics say some legislators use the payments as an additional income source;
- Raising legislators’ pay;
- Increasing legislators’ terms from two years to four, which Schneiderman says would allow legislators to focus on governing instead of politics;
- Lowering campaign contribution limits;
- Eliminating party housekeeping accounts, which Schneiderman refers to as “barely regulated slush funds” for political parties;
- Closing a loophole that allows LLC’s to contribute to candidates. The loophole allows wealthy donors to circumvent individual campaign contribution limits;
- Creating a public financing system where the state would match individual contributions between $10 and $175 at a six-to-one ratio. The law would cap the public match, with amounts varying by office.
Schneiderman’s proposal would also alter the definition of bribery. Right now, the definition centers on an agreement or understanding that a public official will take a certain action for a certain benefit. Under the proposal, “a person is guilty of giving a bribe when he or she confers a benefit on a public servant ‘with intent to influence’ his or her official conduct,” says the press release.
This year, former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos have been arrested and charged in separate federal corruption cases. Both legislators are accused of taking official actions from which they have or could have benefited. Both have pleaded not guilty and profess their innocence.
In the press release, several good government groups offer enthusiastic support for the End New York Corruption Now Act.
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2015.
Scnheiderman’s proposals are obviously written by and for corrupt politicians. One of Cuomo’s favorite “anti-corruption” proposals has been the public financing of elections. What a cruel joke to taxpayers; giving your tax dollars to ethically-challenged politicians to run for office. None of the major scandals that I can think of have anything to do with campaign fund raising, they have all been about corrupt actions while in office. Which is why we don’t need to increase legislator’s terms in office as Schneiderman proposes, we actually need to LIMIT their terms. In addition, the voters of New York must have the ability to RECALL corrupt office holders, and those convicted of corruption must have their state pensions revoked.
DO NOT make legislators full time and increase their pay. Even part-time they pass too many laws as it is. Make them disclose all outside income. It’s unbelievable that they don’t make them do this now!
The article states: “This year, former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos have been arrested and charged in separate federal corruption cases.” Two down and one to go. We’re just waiting for Andrew Cuomo to make it a threesome. Instead of having state budgets decided by the corrupt ‘Three men in a room’ process we’ll have ‘Three men in a cell’ where they belong.