Issue Position: CLEANING UP ALBANY

Issue Position

Ethics reform in Albany is far from done, and the current environment does not inspire the types of big ideas and big changes we need to build a better tomorrow. This is the biggest shame of all.

It's an insider's game. Albany operates under rules designed to protect incumbents and the interests that fund their campaigns. The result is a government run by antiquated legislative leaders that have been in power since the Ford and Carter administrations.

This includes Senator Steve Saland, the seated Senator for our district. He recently supported an Ethics Bill that allows current and former State Senators to keep their taxpayer-funded pensions if they are convicted of a crime. The timing of this bill coincided with the trial of his friend, former Senator Vincent Liebell, who was convicted of bribery and of stealing millions from his constituents and fellow New Yorkers. The disgraced former Senator is now in jail. And thanks to all of those that passed the ethics "reform" law, he continues to receive his pension. This needs to be changed. We also need term limits so that no one is allowed to accumulate 32 years worth of power that can be used to benefit convicted felons.

I believe being a public servant in the legislature should be a full time job with term limits. This would serve to discourage the type of unethical behavior that has become a growth industry in Albany. We elect representatives to serve our needs, the peoples' needs, not the needs of their clients and special interests.

Senator Saland and I disagree on this point. He supported the recent "ethics bill" that does not require him to reveal his clients -- not even those that have business before the state. As a result, his law firm is allowed to continue representing many of the municipalities within his own district, as well as companies vying for state contracts. By supporting this bill, Steve essentially says that his outside income is none of our business -- even when it clearly is.

I am a strong supporter of an independent redistricting process, as well as comprehensive campaign finance reform. This is not the case with Senator Saland. He and the Republican majority in the Senate continue to fight hard to avoid a fair redistricting process that by law was supposed to happen during the last legislative session.

Cleaning up the culture of corruption in Albany is high on my list of priorities as your state senator. We can make no real progress until our government starts working for all New Yorkers instead of a select few. This is essential to building a better tomorrow.

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