Originally Published: July 1, 2014
Ten unethical legislators in 2013-14 is double the previous record of 5 in 2007-2008
Good legislators’ inaction on ethics allows bad legislators to hide in the darkness of corruption
26 out of office with 4 more likely – the crime wave of corruption in Albany has reached epic proportions.
Statement By Dick Dadey, Citizens Union Executive Director
With the news today that state senator Thomas Libous was charged with lying to FBI investigators about how he got his son a job at an Albany-based law firm to which he pledged he would steer business, the number of legislators who have left office or been indicted since 2000 has now reached 30 in 15 years according to Citizens Union’s Corruption Tracker – a running report on the too regular occurrence of corruption in Albany. That is two legislators for every year. Yet it is 10 in just the past eighteen months – double the previous high of five who left office in the 2007-2008 session.
It is scandalous that 30 legislators have violated the public trust having been given the opportunity to serve. But it is even more shameful that the good legislators fail to pass effective and stronger ethics legislation that would compel greater disclosure of outside business relationships and more effective oversight role for our government watchdogs. That the good legislators – through inaction – allow the bad ones to hide in the darkness of corruption is irresponsible.
New Yorkers have grown weary of the constant parade of elected officials being charged with misconduct. Though stronger ethics laws have been passed, more still needs to be done to change the culture of corruption in Albany: Truly independent ethics enforcement. Greater disclosure of outside income. Comprehensive campaign finance reform. The farce that is Albany corruption must end.