Pension forfeiture, spending disclosure rules part of last-minute reform package A last-minute ethics reform deal reached by the governor and legislative conference leaders would strip the pensions of any public officer who is convicted of corruption. Under the agreement reached late Friday, any public officer who is convicted of […]
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Why do legislators steal?
So why do so many politicians steal? Clearly, they can make a lot of money within the legal parameters they themselves have established, so it doesn’t make sense that they would chance going to prison, some for the rest of their lives, by doing something criminal. Most of us […]
Bill would educate new parents on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
A bill that would educate new parents about safe sleep practices for infants has passed both houses and will be sent to Gov. Cuomo to be signed or vetoed. The bill ( S.5100/A.7181) amends Public Health Law to require that the informational leaflet provided by hospitals and birth centers […]
Senate confirms Rosado to head Department of State
Rossana Rosado, who was nominated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in February to serve as New York’s 66th Secretary of State, was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Wednesday night. Rosado will lead the Department of State, which is one of the oldest agencies in state government, having been established in […]
Senate and Assembly pass safe water bill in final hours of session
The issue of lead contaminated water is one that Americans have become all too familiar with. With Flint, Mich., Baltimore, Md. and Newark, N.J all in the headlines recently for contamination in their drinking water, lawmakers, educators and environmental groups are hoping to be proactive about keeping children safe […]
We are one people
To the editor, All of us mourn the loss of life and the act of violence that occurred in Orlando last weekend. This was an attack on freedom-loving people and freedom-loving societies everywhere. Acts of terrorism, foreign or domestic, aimed at gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation must be […]
State agencies plan crackdown on underage drinking, DWI at summer concert venues
State officials are warning concert goers to expect more DWI checkpoints and tougher enforcement of underage drinking in and around state-owned venues this summer, including SPAC and Jones Beach. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the launch of coordinated sweeps during the summer concert season and at other underage hotspots as […]
Watchdogs: Extend session until real ethics reform is passed
With only a few days remaining in the session, the Legislature is poised to recess without passing a single anti-corruption measure, say leading good-government groups, despite a “crime wave of corruption” that has engulfed the Capitol and sent the leaders of both the Assembly and Senate to prison. “The […]