Passage of a bill that would create better oversight and transparency measures on economic development spending and lump-sum state spending is being urged by co-sponsor assemblymen Marc W. Butler (R,C,I,Ref-Newport) and Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River).

“New Yorkers are frustrated their hard-earned dollars are being pocketed by unethical officials and contractors,” Butler said in his statement of support. “ Better oversight and transparency is needed now, and our legislation can create those reforms,” said Butler.

Butler, whose 118th Assembly District includes St. Lawrence County towns from Norfolk and Madrid south to Colton, Clifton and Fine, claims the governor’s economic development programs have been at the heart of several recent ethics scandals, including the SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Buffalo Billion projects.

“It is essential we create more oversight to review how the state is spending millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Blankenbush, whose 117th District includes the St. Lawrence County towns of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn, plus Lewis County and parts of Jefferson and Oneida counties.

“Economic development in our state has been overshadowed by failure and scandal for far too long, and holding those who misappropriate funds accountable is needed more now than ever,” Blankenbush said. “Bringing businesses to New York is crucial if we are going to get this state back on the up, but it must be done fairly and by the book.”

Butler says the bill is the toughest legislation addressing the issue of lump-sum spending. He says it would create the following reforms to help end bid rigging in the state:

· Establish a three-person oversight committee, including the comptroller, the attorney general and the director of the Division of Budget;

· Require such spending to be lined out in detail and require a vote by the legislature;

· Prohibit political contributions by those overseeing such funds;

· Oversight would also extend to lump-sum funds spent by public authorities;

· Withhold salaries of the governor, agency commissioner and deputy commissioner for failures to submit reports required on lump-sum spending, such as START-UP NY;

· Prohibit the use of state-affiliated not-for-profits, such as Fort Schuyler and Fuller Road, unless permitted by law or authorized by the state comptroller; and

· Require lump-sum spending from SUNY Research Foundation to also be under the review of the three-person oversight committee.

This legislation would also grant the New York State comptroller the ability to coordinate an Economic Development Audit Board to audit state economic development projects, and prohibit campaign contributors from obtaining project contracts, Blankenbush’s statement said.