ethics

State lawmakers carry on in face of scandal

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:12:14 +0000

Lawmakers in Albany tried to continue business as usual in the wake of one of the worst scandals in recent decades, that has overshadowed most other news coming out of the Capitol. Much of this week’s legislative session has been canceled, but politicians who were in town insisted that their agendas are not being derailed.

Malcolm Smith scandal reverberates through state's political circles

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:25:18 +0000

The scandal around state Sen. Malcolm Smith is continuing to have repercussions in both political parties and in every level of the state’s government. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on an upstate tour to promote the recently passed state budget, has been dogged by questions about the scandal instead.

Ethics panel report remains secret

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:57:43 +0000

A government reform group is calling for a state ethics panel report to be made public, one day after the panel investigating charges against Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D-Brooklyn) sent a report to the legislative ethics committee.

State ethics board impeded by secrecy rules

Karen Dewitt — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 12:01:00 +0000

New York state’s ethics board is coming under criticism as it launches an investigation that is believed to focus on a sexual harassment scandal in the Assembly. The secrecy rules imposed in the laws governing the commission are causing some unanticipated problems.

NY GOP use Democrats' words against them

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:06:55 +0000

The New York State Republican Party is turning a familiar Democratic Party accusation back against the Assembly Democrats, who are involved in a sexual harassment scandal.

JCOPE meets; won't confirm investigation

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:02:56 +0000

The state ethics board held a closed door meeting Tuesday. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics, or JCOPE, is believed to be discussing whether to investigate Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and possibly the Assembly Speaker, over a sexual harassment scandal.

Cuomo defends ethics panel decision on retroactivity

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:17:16 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to defend a decision by a state ethics board to keep secret the names of donors to a lobbying group that is a key ally of the governor.

Ethics committee holds hearing Thursday amid questions about lobby group

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:15:35 +0000

A lobbying group closely allied with the policies of Governor Andrew Cuomo has been in the news a lot in the past couple of days, in articles raising questions about multi-million dollar donations to the group known as the Committee to Save New York, and policies later advocated by the governor.

Tom Devine on The Campbell Conversations

Grant Reeher — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:05:50 +0000

There is nothing more powerful than the truth. That’s the faith that has sustained Tom Devine’s three-decade campaign to promote and protect whistleblowers in the corporate and governmental realms.

Joint Commission on Public Ethics meets behind closed doors

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:08:58 +0000

Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders announced their appointments to the new Joint Commission on Public Ethics, or JCOPE early last week. It was the last possible day before the commission was, under law, required to begin its work.

The first meeting was held late Thursday. It was a private teleconference, and no public notice was given. The Associated Press first reported the existence of the meeting.

Appointments for the Joint Commission on Public Ethics

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:40:01 +0000

Governor Cuomo named Janet DiFiore, the District Attorney of Westchester County, to chair the commission. He also appointed Seymour Knox the IV, who is VP of Corporate Relations for the Buffalo Sabres, as well as the chair of a private equity firm, and Mitra Hormozi, who worked for Cuomo when he was Attorney General.

Senate Leader Dean Skelos picks include former Western New York State Senator Mary Lou Rath. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver chose former state budget director Patrick Bulgaro.