Ethics Reform Advocates Roll Out ‘Clean Conscience Pledge’

Casey Seiler reports in Capitol Confidential about today’s press conference by NY Common  Cause and NYPIRG who “are calling on elected officials to sign a three-point “Clean Conscience Pledge” that includes closing the limited liability company loophole, banning or limiting outside income for lawmakers, and enhancing transparency in the distribution of public dollars.

In a press conference, Lerner said the recent convictions of former legislative leader Dean Skelos and Sheldon Silver added urgency to the reform push. She suggested the three points should serve as “the basis” for any program to be proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo or the Legislature.

“Albany has its Watergate moment now,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group.”

State Government Corruption Hits Could Keep Coming In 2016

Ken Lovett reports in the Daily News today:

“As state lawmakers return to Albany this week, the stench of corruption scandals that hung over the Capitol in 2015 is not expected to dissipate any time soon.

Not only does U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara still have ongoing probes after already having convicted the two top legislative leaders last year, but state Board of Elections Chief Enforcement Officer Risa Sugarman has referred a number of cases for criminal prosecution as well.

“Everyone is on edge waiting for the next public official to be indicted ,” said Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union.”

Since her office opened in September, 2014, Sugarman has opened 185 cases that so far has resulted in the issuance of 25 subpoenas and 11 cases referred for criminal prosecution to the state Attorney General’s Office or local district attorneys.

Cuomo Muted In Support Of Constitutional Convention

Bill Mahoney revisits the question of a constitutional convention in Politico NY, writing  that “while the 2017 vote on whether the state should hold a constitutional convention is likely to face much of the same opposition that caused the question to go down in a landslide in 1997, the state has so far done less to prepare for it than it had twenty years ago.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been mostly silent on the issue up to this point. While campaigning in 2010, he said he favored a convention “to rewrite the Constitution” and make changes to “clean up Albany” immediately “because we cannot wait any longer for the state legislature to act.” One advocate says Cuomo was explicit that this meant he’d push for one in his first year in office. (The question of a convention is automatically on the ballot once every twenty years, but legislative action can result in one convening in the intervening period.)”