Cut Corruption Off at its Roots

Scandal after scandal, Albany has been unwilling and unable to police itself on matters of public corruption. It is so bad that shocking headlines involving corrupt public officials have now become commonplace. Those in power are so accustomed to wallowing in the muck and mire of political corruption that it’s as if they prefer it that way — despite constant urging from our Assembly Republican Conference.

It’s not hard for any reasonable person to see what the problem is: unchecked power and access to money have been corrupting forces in New York’s capitol. For too long these political commodities have been in the hands of nefarious people and it has wreaked havoc on New York’s government.

At the root of this problem is the concentration of power in a handful of leaders — the Assembly speaker, Senate majority leader, and the governor. Former Speaker Sheldon Silver was just sentenced to 12 years in prison and nearly $7 million in fines and payback for his crimes. Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was set to be sentenced on May 12. Former Sen. John Sampson, who served as majority leader during the brief stint of Democrat control, will be sentenced at the end of May. And now, a complex web of bid-rigging, all tied to the governor’s aides and political allies, is being investigated by federal prosecutors and the state attorney general.

Access to public dollars and campaign contributions also plays a significant role in recent cases. Nepotism, the use of private-sector firms and nonprofits to funnel money to elected officials, pay-to-play, bid rigging, and even ill-gotten financial gains have plagued Albany.

If this isn’t a big wakeup call for the Assembly Democrats, I don’t know what will be. Maybe they will be persuaded by the public, because the public has had enough.

Nearly every New Yorker thinks corruption is a serious problem. A recent Siena Poll confirms this, indicating that 97 percent of New Yorkers are demanding ethics reforms.

Assembly Democrats have failed over and over again to pass any meaningful ethics reforms. When Speaker Carl Heastie took his position after Silver’s arrest, he promised reforms, but more than a year later, he and his colleagues have failed to deliver. In fact, they have actively blocked ethics legislation that my Republican colleagues and I sponsor.

The Assembly Republican Conference’s Public Officers Accountability Act, which was blocked by Democrats, would have set term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs and increased punishments for corruption crimes and violations of campaign-finance laws. Also blocked was public-pension forfeiture legislation, which would strip corrupt public officials of their publically funded pensions. No felon should be able to collect even one dime from his victims — the taxpayers.

My colleagues and I continue to discuss and develop ethics reforms, including lowering the maximum campaign contribution allowed from state, county, or local political committees; stopping bid rigging in state contracting by prohibiting awardees from making political contributions for one year; and ending special interest Super PAC spending, which holds excessive sway in the political process. 

The New York Assembly must make ethics reforms its main priority for the remainder of session. It would be foolhardy to continue to put off these much-needed changes. The public is demanding action, and it is our job to respond and protect their interests.

Marc W. Butler (R,C,I–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us