Earlier this week, a rare incident occurred in the Assembly’s Governmental Employees Committee. It was an incident I wish had been seen by every single New Yorker who is sick and tired of corruption and scandal within the State Assembly. The incident I am talking about is the tabling of Assembly Bill 4643-A.

On Tuesday, the Assembly Majority had the opportunity to pass legislation through the Governmental Employees Committee and come one step closer to giving New Yorkers the ethics reform they so deeply desire. This legislation (A.4643-A) would strip state officials convicted of corruption of their taxpayer-funded pensions. As the votes were being counted, it became apparent to the Assembly Majority members in the committee there was a problem: they were losing. The end tally came back 7-6 in favor of moving the bill on to the next step of the process. It seemed like we would finally have a debate on the first piece of ethics legislation this session; however, those hopes were quickly crushed. The Chair of the committee pulled the bill off the table and canceled the vote. Due to the absence of Assemblyman Dendekker, one vote was absent and the eighth vote needed to make an official decision on the bill never came.

While my colleagues and I in the Assembly Minority Conference are used to seeing our comprehensive ethics legislation blocked in committee, this was different. A majority vote was defeated due to a technicality. As mentioned, in January my conference and I proposed a series of rules reform for the Assembly to implement. One of those reforms was the live video and audio broadcasting of these committee meetings. The Assembly Majority agreed to this proposal but has yet to implement the necessary changes, allowing this week’s anti-ethics scramble to occur. The Assembly Majority shouldn’t have the ability to cancel a vote and pretend it didn’t happen just because they don’t like the outcome. These sly practices are exactly what the Assembly Minority are trying to bring to light and show the people of New York. You deserve the ability to keep tabs on elected officials and be able to hold them accountable for their deceptive techniques practiced behind closed doors.

With so few days left in this year’s legislative session, the Assembly Majority has yet to allow a single piece of ethics legislation come to the floor. It is unacceptable and I will not settle for a watered-down version of a bill just to say we passed something.

I welcome your thoughts on rules reforms, ethics reforms or any other legislative matter. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling my office at 315-493-3909.