I hope the guilty verdict in former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s trial will serve as a sobering wake-up call to state elected officials that “business-as-usual” misdeeds and behavior are no longer acceptable. New York’s government has been pinpointed for years by good government groups, both in state and nationally, as troubled and mired in deep-seated corruption.

Sadly, Silver is merely being added to an already long list of legislators who have either been arrested or have resigned from office in disgrace because of questionable actions. From embezzlement, quid pro quo and even sexual harassment, there have been elected officials neck-deep in corruption.

Troublingly, politicians convicted of felonies are still eligible for their publicly-funded pensions. For instance, it’s estimated that Silver could collect about $90,700 annually in pension benefits. Roughly $4 million has been paid out in retirement benefits to corrupt politicians over the last 15 years. It’s an absurd notion that the public should be required to pay.

Now is the time for the legislature to act.

First and foremost, the state needs to close this loophole that allows felons to collect public pensions. I am a sponsor of the Public Pension Forfeiture Act, which if passed by the legislature, would create a public referendum allowing the public to amend the state constitution and strip public pension benefits from elected officials and public officers convicted of felonies.

Furthermore, our corruption laws need to be strengthened. I also sponsor the Public Officers Accountability Act, which would do just that. If passed, the bill would create some of the toughest ethics laws in the nation. Gone would be the days when a few individuals could have an iron grip on unending positions of power, as the bill would create term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs. There would be new and tougher laws for breaking the public’s trust. There would be campaign finance reform. Overall, the act would make it harder for one to use the system for their personal benefit.

The people of this state deserve far better from their government. The principles of public service need to be the primary motive and incentive to those in elected office. Running for office should not be about personal gain, but rather the sacrifice of one’s time, ideas and solutions for the benefit of the public.

I encourage you to sign my petition at tinyurl.com/reforms4ny. You also may call my office at 493-3909 if you are unable to go online. As always, I welcome your input. You may email me at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling my office.