Friend: Assembly Should Go Much Further On Ethics Reform

A statement by Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats)

“The resolution before the Assembly yesterday was almost a year in the making, but it didn’t include a majority of the Assembly Majority’s own recommendations. I am thankful the Assembly has taken two of the Minority’s recommendations to publish votes online and broadcast committee meetings. However, the people of New York deserve actual accountability from the top to the bottom of the Legislature.

That means term limits for leaders. That means taxpayer-financed pension forfeiture for those convicted of abusing their power. We didn’t gain any new methods of enforcing the rules already on the books. We didn’t get any of that. Without term limits or the penalty of pension forfeiture, the Assembly will likely continue under its long-established status quo. We must be doing more and becoming more proactive in restoring the public’s trust in government.”

The ethics reforms put forward by Assemblyman Friend and the Minority Conference can be found below. The conference released a video as well, highlighting the fight to restore the public’s trust in the People’s House.