This week, the New York State Assembly passed Speaker Heastie’s ethics reform bill to limit outside income of members of the Assembly. This bill will limit the outside income of Assembly members to $77,000 in addition to their base Assembly salary in an effort to curb outside influences. The speaker’s ethics bill also closes federal loopholes and limits the amount corporations can contribute to members of the Legislature.

Corporations have been targeted by the Assembly Majority for limitations on contributions in this measure. I believe that unions contribute just as much and can also influence legislator’s decisions all the same. For this reason, we must be aware of contributors on both sides of the aisle and address them in the same, fair manner.

While this legislation is a successful step toward reform in Albany it is by no means an end. To stop at limiting outside income as a way to drain Albany’s entrenched sea of corruption would be the equivalent to putting a Band-Aid over a large wound. As a Legislature we must be steadfast and pass legislation that enacts term limits for legislative leaders and forfeits the pension of officials convicted of felonies while serving in office.

For years, the Assembly Minority have offered rules changes and ethics reforms that have all together been swept aside by the Assembly Majority. Term limits would combat stagnation and ensure that legislators don’t become entrenched in the system and pension forfeiture would ensure no politician is able to collect a cent of taxpayer dollars after being convicted of a felony while in office. These reforms are overwhelmingly supported by New Yorkers and should be addressed whenever talking about ethics reform in this state.

On Tuesday, I voted in favor of this ethics legislation but this cannot and will not be the end of the discussion. My conference and I will continue to push the Majority to finish the job and put in place substantive reforms for the sake of all New Yorkers.

I welcome your thoughts on ethics reforms or any other legislative matter. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling my office at 493-3909.