Pay to Play Law Blog : Pay to Play Lawyer & Attorney : Bribery, Campaign Contributions

Last week, the State of New York provided a graphic illustration of the perils confronting legislators as they attempt to balance public calls for dramatic reform against their own natural self-interest in blunting the impact of the restrictions they are imposing upon themselves.

Responding to public concerns over several high-profile scandals to plague the state, the New York State Assembly recently passed, by a significant margin, what it had advertised to be a comprehensive ethics, lobbying and campaign finance package. On February 2, 2010, New York Governor David Paterson vetoed that legislation on the grounds that the Assembly had effectively neutered the reform package called for by the public. The Assembly had touted the proposed legislation as delivering significant ethics reform by granting the legislature authority to appoint a commission designed to permit the legislature to police itself.

Despite the fact that the measures had garnered widespread support and had originally passed both chambers of the state legislature by wide margins, Governor Paterson vetoed the legislation saying it failed to provide solutions in multiple areas, including campaign limits and the establishment of an independent ethics body to oversee the Assembly.

Gov. David Paterson further stated he is preparing a different, harsher version of the bill, and that he is planning to release new draft legislation containing tighter external controls on local politicians and stricter campaign contribution limits. With concerns that such proposed legislation would be forthcoming, the New York State Senate last week attempted, but failed, to gain the two-thirds majority needed to override the Governor's veto. As is typical, the parties traded barbs over responsibility for the failure with New York's Democratic Majority Leader accusing Senate Republicans of having killed ethics reform in Albany and the Senate Minority Leader accusing Democrats of trying to ram through an override even if it meant a weaker bill was enacted.

Common Cause New York released a statement urging the governor and both houses to stop the political grand-standing and work together to negotiate a compromise that means a strong ethics bill for the State of New York.

Ultimately, for now, the State of New York is left with no reform at all and the setback serves as a cautionary tale for other state legislatures as they attempt to balance public outcry for "reform" against restrictions they can live with.

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New York Governor David A. Paterson has announced extensive ethics and campaign finance reform legislation, the "Reform Albany Act", which will be a focus of his second State of the State address.

The proposed legislation calls for the creation of a single, independent State Government Ethics Commission with advisory and enforcement powers regarding campaign finance, ethics and lobbying; and which would replace the New York State Commission on Public Integrity. It also provides for increased oversight and enhanced reporting by state officers of outside business activities, and enhanced reporting requirements for lobbyists. And, it would replace the State Comptroller as sole trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (one of the largest pension funds in the U.S.) with a 5-member Board of Trustees.

The legislation also includes sweeping campaign finance reform: drastically reducing maximum contribution limits, limiting contributions to housekeeping accounts, and banning corporate contributions; as well as providing for a new system for the public financing of campaigns. The Governor has also proposed term limits for members of the Legislature and statewide officials (which would require a State Constitutional amendment).

The sweeping ethics reform initiative follows the recent trial and conviction former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno on corruption charges, which exposed weaknesses in State ethics laws; as well as Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation of Pay to Play activity involving the administration of the Common Retirement Fund under the former State Comptroller.

While several of the concepts in the legislation have been the subject of prior proposals, the reform package faces an uphill battle in the State Legislature. The State Senate and State Assembly are developing their own ethics initiatives. And, the estimated 30 million dollar price tag for public financing of campaigns comes at a time of financial crisis in the State, with the budget deficit in 2010 estimated at between 7 and 9 billion dollars.

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