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This belongs to you. Take it back...
Ethics Reform 
Wed Dec 08, 2010 at 11:13:34 AM EST
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In the wake of the Kevin Parker conviction today, I have a growing concern about the actions coming out of John Sampson and our Democrats in Albany. The fact is that we are at a turning point in New York politics. We've elected a new Governor with a massive swell of support and enter a new decade a growing litany of problem. My concern is that we are at risk of losing the claim of the Party of Reform to the Republicans and setting back the progressive agenda a generation. In this paradigm, Republicans act as the good-government reformers, bring a modicum of transparency, and eclipse the Democratic Party with the public as the party that can clean up Albany. This should be a fear for all of us.
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Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 11:54:11 AM EST
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The reviews of the new ethics reforms announced yesterday are beginning to roll in. They are mixed at best. I think I agree to a point with Senator Liz Krueger who referred to the new package as "a down payment on ethics reform". here's what others are saying.
Silver Trumpets His Ethics As Spitzer Gains New Powers (NY Sun)
Governor Spitzer will have a stronger role in enforcing rules on lobbyists and other ethics-related issues than any recent chief executive in Albany under an agreement announced yesterday. But even as the governor was celebrating, the speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, in an interview with The New York Sun, defended his relationship with a law firm specializing in tort cases. Mr. Silver said his clients were individuals, such as an injured pedestrian from Connecticut, and insisted that none of them has business before the state.
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But one sensitive issue untouched by the laws is financial disclosure requirements of lawmakers. Under the new laws, lawmakers are still permitted to shield from public view the value of their outside sources of income and details of their work, such as the names of clients and associates.
Pressure on lawmakers to open their books has been building since Mr. Bruno announced late last year that he was a subject of a federal probe involving his private consulting firm, which he operates out of his home. Mr. Silver's own critics have urged him to release the names of his clients to assure the public there's no conflict of interest between his work for the law firm and his job as speaker.
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In recent months, the low-key Lower East Side politician has been fighting an uphill public relations battle to defend the honor of the Legislature, where more lawmakers have faced investigations than have lost re-election in the past three years. Most members of the Legislature are "hard-working" public servants who understand their responsibilities, Mr. Silver said.
He offered a sobering assessment of his power to stop his colleagues from misbehaving. "There is nothing we can legislate that is going to prevent people who are inclined to do illegal acts to do illegal acts."
More on the flip...
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Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 11:29:14 AM EST
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I guess we are about to find out. Again, it looks as if the boys have been hard at work behind closed doors. Color me skeptical. From the AP's Michael Gormley via Newsday:
NewsBreak: Spitzer, legislative leaders agree to ethics reform
Gov. Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders were scheduled Wednesday to announce their agreement on sweeping changes in ethics enforcement, including banning gifts to lawmakers, according to two people familiar with the deal.
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The agreement calls for a new and far-reaching agency that would enforce rules governing lobbyists and employees in the executive branch. The agreement also calls for a revamped Legislative Ethics Committee, which has been criticized by good-government groups as ineffective and secretive in handling complaints against colleagues. The new Legislative Ethics Committee would have four lawmakers and would now include four members who aren't in the Legislature. All would be appointed by legislative leaders.
The new ethics agency for lobbying and executive branch employees would include 13 members, seven of whom would be appointed by the governor.
The deal would end the lobbying commission as an independent entity, which government watchdogs including the New York Public Interest Research Group and Commmon Cause-New York have called Albany's most effective ethics enforcer.
Existing ethics laws have been criticized as weak and contributing to a capitol culture called unseemly and even corrupt.
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Thu Dec 14, 2006 at 19:13:10 PM EST
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Quinnipiac University released a new poll today showing strong support from New Yorkers for term limits, ethics reform, campaign finance reform and, well, Senator Hillary Clinton.
By a 67 - 27 percent margin, New York State voters support term limits of two terms for statewide elected officials, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters support two-term limits for state legislators 69 - 27 percent.
Support for term limits is consistent among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.
It is "very important" that the newly elected State Legislature pass new ethics laws, 56 percent of voters say, with 28 percent who say it is "somewhat important."
Strong laws for campaign finance reform also are 'very important" to 52 percent of voter, with 30 percent who say "somewhat important."
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