Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) proposed several new ethics reforms yesterday, to address the looming issue of corruption that hangs over the state Capitol. While every proposal made by Blankenbush and his Assembly Minority colleagues has been ignored by the Assembly Majority, he continues to offer solutions that will clean up Albany.

“This month alone we will see three former leaders of our Legislature sentenced for crimes committed while serving in office,” said Blankenbush. “The people have voiced their opinion and it’s time the Assembly Majority listened to them. Something substantive such as campaign finance reform or the monitoring of special interests involvement with the Legislature must be done before we leave session.”

A recent Siena poll shows that 97 percent of New Yorkers believe legislative ethics reforms should be passed before session concludes in June.

Recent proposals Blankenbush put forth include: limiting campaign contributions to a state, county or local political committee from $100,000 to $10,000 max, thereby taking big money out of the people’s elections, pension forfeiture and reviewing how the state handles the issue of donations after companies are awarded Requests for Approvals (job contracts).

“It’s laughable that my colleagues and I come up against such a challenge to pass meaningful ethics and rules reforms. Our previously proposed legislation had no problem passing the Senate yet it is continually blocked by the Assembly. Maybe creating a fair and transparent Legislature isn’t important to the party in charge of the Assembly,” Blankenbush said.