| It seems that newly minted state Senate Minority Leader Malcom Smith (D-Queens) talks a pretty good game about things like reform, ethics and transparency, but has some trouble backing those words up. Senator Smith missed a perfectly good opportunity to demonstrate his sincerity and commitment to those ideals by not publicly stripping disgraced and now twice indicted state Senator Efrain Gonzalez (D-Bronx) of any and all committee and leadership posts. Instead he has allowed Gonzalez to "resign" his position as conference chairman.
From the New York Daily News:
Indicted Pol Quits Albany Boss Post
Bronx state Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr., who has been indicted on corruption charges, will give up a legislative leadership post today - but not his seat, the Daily News has learned.
Gonzalez's office confirmed the move last night.
For the past two years, Gonzalez, a Democrat, has earned an extra $8,250 on top of his $79,500 annual base pay as chairman of the Senate minority conference, the position he will quit.
Gonzalez is accused in a federal indictment of scheming to steal $423,000 in pork barrel "member item" funds to run his cigar business in the Dominican Republic and pay for Yankee tickets, jewelry for his daughter and expensive apartments.
Gonzalez's office said in a statement that the senator was giving up the chairmanship because of the "impact the indictment would have on his time."
Know what could really have an "impact on his time"? The fact that he could possibly face 20 years in prison if convicted of stealing over $400,000 from the people of New York state. |
| I offer to Senator Smith the same advice I extended to now Lt. Governor Paterson shortly after the indictment was announced.
While you're at it, strip Gonzalez of everything. You can't kick his ass out of the Senate, but you can damn sure make it feel that way.
So, where does Minority Leader Smith stand on Gonzalez "quitting" his leadership post?
Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens), who was sworn in on New Year's Eve to fill the top Democratic post vacated by newly minted Lt. Gov. David Paterson, was unavailable for comment last night.
Smith has been urging his fellow Democrats to focus on the agenda of reforming the legislative process in Albany, initiatives that include greater transparency on pork barrel spending.
You can talk the talk, Senator Smith. Can you walk the walk? |
