Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
As the corruption trial against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver proceeds, one North Country Assembly member is promoting his plan for ethics reform in Albany. Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, …
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As the corruption trial against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver proceeds, one North Country Assembly member is promoting his plan for ethics reform in Albany.
Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, R-Black River, is sponsoring the Public Officers Accountability Act, which he says would establish new crimes against the public trust, set term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs, ban corrupt politicians from running for office, and require return of campaign contributions from corrupt politicians.
The assemblyman represents the 117th District, including the towns of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County.
“This act touches on the power, greed and corruption components highlighted in Silver’s case by the federal prosecutors,” the announcement from Blankenbush’s office said.
Former Speaker Silver is charged with fraud, extortion and money laundering. The charges say that he, as speaker of the Assembly, took in more than $4 million illegally through a bribe-and-kickback scheme.
But Blankenbush is appalled that Silver’s lawyers are alleging, as a defense, that Silver’s actions were just par for the course and not out of line with the current culture of Albany. “It makes some people uncomfortable, but that is the system New York State has chosen…,” said Silver’s attorney.
“The culture of corruption that has led to some public officials using bribery, embezzling public dollars, and getting away with abuse on numerous levels, including rampant sexual harassment, is not what the honest, hardworking people of New York signed up for,” Blankenbush said,
“State government has veered so far away from the ideal principles of cooperation, selflessness and truthfulness that some public officials can delude themselves into thinking their actions of power, greed and corruption are nothing but normal,” he said.
Blankenbush is asking for support from the public by examining and signing a petition asking that the bill be brought to the floor of the Assembly. It can be seen at www.tinyurl.com/Reforms4NY.
