Cuomo Detailed Ethics Reforms in Revised Budget Plan

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday proposed detailed ethics reforms meant to restore trust in state government by requiring officials to detail all outside income and everybody who pays them more than $1,000.

The Democrat also proposed a new system of compensating lawmakers for travel expenses that would require them to submit actual receipts for meals, transportation and lodging. Under the current system, lawmakers are paid a flat payment of $172 a day.

“We must bring sunlight to ethical shadows,” Cuomo said in a statement. “New Yorkers deserve nothing less.”

The proposals come in the form of amendments to Cuomo’s $142 billion state budget proposal. That means lawmakers would have to reject large portions of the budget to defeat them.

The governor would require reporting all actual services performed for compensation and any connections to state government. Lawyers, real estate agents and certain other professionals would have to file detailed reports.

The proposal also bars lawmakers from any kind of outside compensation in connection with pending legislation. Violators could be prosecuted and lose longstanding state pensions.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the February 23rd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.