Politics & Government

From the Desk of Sen. Craig M. Johnson: Unethical Loophole Closed

Port Washington senator helped sponsor a measure which prohibits elected officials and public servants from using state resources for non-governmental purposes.

Recently, common sense legislation that would close a glaring loophole in the state's ethics code was signed into law.

I am proud to have helped sponsor this measure (S6439), which once and for all prohibits elected officials and public servants from using state resources for private business, or other non-governmental purposes. This law closes "the Bruno Gap."

That phrase was coined after evidence presented during former Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's public corruption trial revealed that he commonly used Senate resources to run a private consulting firm.

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As someone who has been in Albany for a relatively short amount of time, these revelations were shocking. However, it was downright infuriating that these abuses were not explicitly prohibited under state law.

I am proud to have helped ensure that anyone who breaks the public trust in this matter is committing a felony. However, much work remains to reform the decades-old system that has allowed this type of institutionalized corruption to thrive. Recent efforts to establish tougher ethics reforms in Albany stalled amid political wrangling. This is simply unacceptable.

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All sides, and all branches of government must work together to ensure that a strong ethics reform package becomes law this year. I am committed to seeing this happen. It is my hope that my colleagues in government are equally committed to moving forward.


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