With the recent scandal involving New York State Speaker
Sheldon Silver, Governor Andrew Cuomo is pushing for an ethics reform to make
outside income visible. Disclosure of outside income, campaign money, stiffer
penalties, and reform of per diems were all main points made in Governor
Cuomo’s address.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently gave a
speech, which credited the governor for his ethics reform but stated that more
was needed than just disclosure. Schneiderman is calling for an eradication of
all outside jobs for New York State Legislatures. This comes soon after the
issue of Sheldon Silver and his indictment. The new proposal would make it
impossible for Legislatures to earn an outside income is they work part time
and earn a base salary of $79,000.
Another concern the Attorney General states is the issue
with per diems. Currently the per diem allowance is $154 per working day to
cover lodging, food and travel expenses. These per diems are accumulated
through tickets and receipts and billed to the state. Assemblywomen Earlene
Hooper billed the state $36,452, more than any other lawmakers. Money not used
in the daily per diem would not have to be returned and could be kept by the
lawmaker. Schneiderman stated that in the new proposal, the money that was not
used for the appropriate per diem, would have to be giving back to the state
and can not be taken without proper approval.
Information retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/17/nyregion/schneiderman-issues-ethics-plan-aimed-at-new-york-legislators.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0
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