Ethics

Substantial Basis Report Submission to Legislative Ethics Commission

February 13, 2013 - Good Government Watchdog Group Will Continue to Closely Monitor Process as First-Ever "Test-case" Unfolds.

Citizens Union Commends Governor Cuomo for Expansive Reform and Transparency Agenda in State of the State Address

January 9, 2013 - Citizens Union commends Governor Cuomo for again making the case for campaign finance reform in his annual State of the State address.

Good Government Groups React To Announcement Of JCOPE Investigation

September 10, 2012 - New York good government groups comprised of Brennan Center for Justice, Citizens Union of the City of New York, League of Women Voters - New York State, and New York Public Interest Research Group, this afternoon released the following joint statement in response to the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announcement that they will be conducting a “substantial basis” investigation.

Citizens Union Urges JCOPE to Perform Full Investigation of Lopez Matter

September 7, 2012 - Lopez Investigation is a Test of JCOPE & Future of Ethics Reform in Albany.

Citizens Union Files JCOPE Complaint Regarding Assembly Handling of Lopez Sexual Harassment Charges and Settlement

August 31, 2012 - Good Government Group calls for investigations to determine facts and whether public officers law was violated.

Citizens Union Responds To Ethics Commission’s Draft Guidelines On Disclosure Of Business Relationships

August 24, 2012 - Good Government Group supports guidelines that prioritize transparency.

Citizens Union Calls on Vito Lopez to Resign

August 24, 2012 - Citizens Union is alarmed to read the detailed and sordid findings of the bipartisan Standing Committee of Ethics and Guidance that Assemblymember Vito Lopez of Brooklyn verbally, physically, and repeatedly harassed two Assembly employees, but is pleased by the swift and strong action taken today by the Assembly to censure him and remove him from his leadership post and benefits of seniority.

Citizens Union Calls For Strong And Full Disclosure Of Funders To Organizations That Lobby In Testimony Before The Joint Commission On Public Ethics (JCOPE)

June 7, 2012 - Citizens Union testified today before the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), calling on the state’s ethics body to promulgate rules that will robustly disclose donors to lobbyists and clients.

Citizens Union Commends Appointment Of Ellen N. Biben To Head JCOPE

February 2, 2012 - Experienced prosecutor has the needed integrity to head new ethics body charged with enforcing state's new ethics law.

Citizens Union Commends Governor And Legislative Leaders For Agreeing On Far-reaching Ethics Reform

June 6, 2011 - With the crime wave of public corruption in our state government having tripled in the past six years, the formal announcement today by Governor Cuomo, Speaker Silver and Majority Leader Skelos that an agreement exists on a broad ethics package is welcomed news.

Citizens Union Calls For Reforms To The City’s Lobbying Laws

May 11, 2011 - Reforms would limit disproportionate influence of lobbyists also involved in political campaigns and money raising. Good Government Group urges restrictions on public funds for political candidates connected to lobbyists. Fourteen recommendations to be formally presented at city lobbying commission tonight also include moving oversight and enforcement from the city clerk's office to the campaign finance board.

Citizens Union Supports Pension Forfeiture Option For State Officials

March 23, 2011 - Urges judges be given discretion to deny automatic pension benefits to those officials convicted of public corruption. Calls upon state legislature and Governor to make pension forfeiture part of ethics reform package.

Citizens Union Issues 2nd Report On Turnover In The State Legislature

February 14, 2011 - Crime wave is accelerating: number of legislators who left in the past six years because of ethical and criminal misconduct has tripled over the previous six years.

Government Watchdog Groups Call On Legislative Ethics Commission To Investigate Monserrate Legal Defense Fund

October 29, 2009 - Allegedly a fund was created to pay Senator Monserrate’s legal bills related to his recent criminal case, as well as the pending review by a special Senate committee regarding his fitness for office in light of his conviction on misdemeanor assault charges.

Good Government Groups Support State Senate Effort to Pass Real Ethics Reform

September 11, 2009 - See Senate amendment as necessary since it adds needed teeth to enforcement. Original bill a modest but incomplete step forward.

Improving the State Senate’s Legislative Process by Reforming its Rules and Administration

February 26, 2009 - Citizens Union commends Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith for taking some important first steps towards greater legislative rules reform through measures such as allowing debate for motions to discharge to be considered more quickly after the request is initiated and allowing for more open sponsorship of bills.

Testimony on the Public Authorities II Accountability Act’s Impact on Local Public Authorities

December 11, 2008 - Testimony to the Assembly Standing Committees on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions and Cities On Application of the Public Authorities Accountability Act of 2005 to local authorities

Testimony on the Public Authorities Accountability Act’s Impact on Local Public Authorities