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North Country Assemblyman Butler joining Republicans calling for ethics reform

Posted 5/9/16

Assemblyman Marc W. Butler, R-Newport, and many of his colleagues in the state Assembly are turning up the heat on Assembly Democrats in calling for more stringent reform measures to be adopted by …

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North Country Assemblyman Butler joining Republicans calling for ethics reform

Posted

Assemblyman Marc W. Butler, R-Newport, and many of his colleagues in the state Assembly are turning up the heat on Assembly Democrats in calling for more stringent reform measures to be adopted by the Legislature.

Butler, whose 118th Assembly District includes St. Lawrence County towns of Madrid, Norfolk, Stockholm, Parishville, Pierrepont, Clare, Colton, Clifton and Fine, said the recent 12-year sentence handed to former Speaker Sheldon Silver and the upcoming sentencings of former Senate Majority Leaders Dean Skelos and John Sampson show that New York needs stronger ethics reforms.

“Everyone in New York, including voters, good-government groups, my Assembly Republican colleagues and I have all been pushing for passage of ethics reforms and discussing ways to strengthen public corruption laws,” said Butler.

“Despite the groundswell of grassroots support, Assembly Democrats have a dismal record on ethics reform and have blocked efforts to restore the public trust. Assembly Democrats may have decided to end the conversation on ethics, but I have not. I sponsor reform legislation and am looking into other options to bolster our ethics reform packages. We must make ethics a priority for the remainder of session. It’s the right thing to do and what the people truly desire.”

According to a recent Sienna Poll, 97 percent of New Yorkers believe ethics reforms should be passed by the Legislature, Butler said.

Butler said he supports these measures:

• Campaign finance rReform – Lower the maximum contribution limit from $100,000 to $10,000 that may be donated to a state, county or local political committee.

• End bid-rigging – Prohibit political donations for one year from entities that have recently been awarded a state contract.

• Limit special interest (super PAC) spending – Regulate or eliminate these entities, which often have excessive interest in the political process.

• Term limits for legislative leaders – The Public Officers Accountability Act outlines term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs. Additionally, it strengthens punishments for public corruption crimes.

• Pension forfeiture – This bill would strip elected and public officials of their public pensions when convicted of a corruption felony.