New York’s Senate and Assembly say they are making a priority of tightening ethics rules, as a review of rules now in place shows they’re too weak to prevent lawmakers from using state employees, time and resources on private ventures.
The effort is intensifying after Monday’s conviction of former Senate leader Joseph Bruno on corruption charges. He argued the rules allowed him to use state resources and that the practice is widespread.
For example, private work done by legislators and their staffs, including campaigning, is governed by a broad section of public officers law. But beyond that, specifics and enforcement are left to the majority parties that control the Senate and the Assembly.
Bruno was in charge of the Senate majority for 14 years.