Last week my colleagues in the Assembly and I were greatly disappointed that Governor Paterson vetoed legislation that would have significantly strengthened ethics laws. Today, in a bipartisan vote, our chamber overrode that decision.

This legislation, which received overwhelming, bipartisan support in both the Assembly and Senate, would expand public disclosure of outside income for state officials, strengthen oversight of our ethics and campaign finance laws, address reporting of independent expenditures in campaigns and create a truly independent oversight body for each branch of state government.