Assemblyman David DiPietro (R,C-East Aurora) is the sponsor of legislation that would strip corrupt lawmakers of their taxpayer-financed pensions. A similar measure was set to pass the Legislature last year before the Assembly Majority pulled the agreed-upon bill from the Floor at the last minute. The constitutional amendment had been supported by the State Senate, Assembly, and the governor following the indictments of two legislative leaders.

“We had the opportunity to finally start to turn this place around last year, and the Assembly Majority pulled the pension forfeiture amendment from the Floor at the 11th hour,” DiPietro said. “Now, this year, we see nothing about ethics reform in the budget. The momentum for pension forfeiture has stalled. The movement to reform Albany has stalled courtesy of the Assembly Majority. As several good government groups yesterday stated, they’ve squandered our ‘Watergate Moment.’ The people of New York deserve better.”

DiPietro’s pension forfeiture legislation is Assembly Bill A4659.