Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today attended a press conference held by Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) criticizing the Assembly Majority for its unwillingness to pass a comprehensive pension forfeiture bill before the end of session. A bill that is expected to reach the floor for a vote today has no Senate companion and exempts large labor unions from pension forfeiture even in the event a member is convicted of corruption related to their position in state government.

“We are sending the wrong message by passing a watered-down pension forfeiture bill that makes exemptions for groups traditionally loyal to the Assembly Majority,” Hawley said. “Our Conference has been at the forefront of ethics reform for years, and yet, our calls have been ignored by the Assembly leadership. It is time that we send a message to corrupt politicians that they cannot ride into the sunset on the coattails of taxpayers.”