Ethics Reform to include who?

With the most recent scandal enveloping the New York State Assembly, many people are pushing for a reform in New York State Government.  A new ethics package is likely within the early part of the 2015 year, after the unravel and indictment of Sheldon Silver, New York State Assembly Speaker.  It’s unsure how much substance will be in the political reform and if it will be transparent for New Yorkers. Many people are suggesting that Governor Andrew Cuomo subject himself to more public disclosure as well, as a way to be more transparent.

The New York Daily News reports that while Cuomo has been attacking lawmakers on making their outside income transparent to citizens, the governor made nearly $900,000 from his most recent memoir. A potential reform would be to ban governors from being paid directly or indirectly, in addition to outside speeches. Governor Cuomo has not made any comments on the new ethics proposal and has not shown whether he will support or reject the new transparent policies.

Within the past ten years, thirty New York State Legislatures have left office in disgrace. Cuomo has been pushing for an ethics reform package but many New Yorkers are hesitant in how they would enforce the new laws. A high-ranking legislative official stated, “A final negotiated package shouldn’t be just all about the legislature, if you want to do something comprehensive on ethics, it should include the governor as well”(New York Daily News). The same high-ranking legislature official also stated that people related to the high-ranking officials should have to disclose all investments, financial information, and income to help reduce the already high fiscal corruption in New York State politics.

Information retrieved from:  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/lovett-state-pols-ethics-package-cover-cuomo-article-1.2125601

Picture retrieved from:  http://observer.com/2014/10/few-die-hard-fans-turn-out-for-andrew-cuomos-book-signing/