Following the sentencing of corrupt former Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) is calling for comprehensive ethics reform that tackles Albany’s problems of bid-rigging and the pay-to-play culture that has facilitated corruption for years. McDonough has been an outspoken proponent of pension forfeiture for corrupt lawmakers and term limits for legislative leaders, two proposals blocked by the Assembly Majority.

“We are overlooking the root causes of corruption in Albany, which if unaddressed, will continue to enable the accumulation of power, money and influence that leads to legislative corruption,” McDonough said. “We are just learning that a company that submitted a bid for state work had donated $100,000 to Governor Cuomo and/or his political committees. This is exactly the type of behavior that enables malfeasance in politics and we need to put a moratorium on campaign donations from businesses with deals before the state. The recent conviction of two legislative leaders makes it all the more necessary to pass measures before the end of session that prevent bid-rigging and quid pro quos that have plagued Albany for far too long. “