Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) today reminded his Assembly Majority colleagues that he has always been a champion of ethics reforms. McDonough was outspoken in saying that he, along with many other Assembly Minority members, were the first to have sponsored stringent ethics reform legislation.

“Our Conference has led the charge on strict ethics reform legislation,” McDonough said. “I have sponsored bills that would remove pension and retirement benefits from public officials convicted of certain felonies as well as the Public Officers Accountability Act, which would place term limits on legislative leaders and ban individuals convicted of certain felonies while serving as a public officer from running for office again. Members of the Assembly Majority have repeatedly blocked this legislation from coming to the floor for a vote but are now hypocritically attempting to push for ethics reform. New leadership in the House opens the door for sweeping change and sending these bills to the floor for a vote should be our priority moving forward.”