Asked how he can spur legislators to enact major ethics reforms during his visit to Albany on Monday, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said he has a “particularly blunt incentive…the avoidance of prison.” The reminder from Bharara comes as legislative leaders and Gov. Andrew Cuomo are quietly discussing possible ethics reforms behind closed doors–reforms none of them have appeared interested in discussing publicly since Cuomo outlined his platform in his State of the State address last month.
Speaking before a captive audience, Bharara focused on the lack of a public conversation on ethics by lawmakers and the strict control legislative leaders have over rank-and-file members, and called on legislators to speak up against the norm and blow the whistle on corruption. The crusading U.S. attorney delivered prepared remarks and sat for an interview at an event on public corruption hosted by WAMC public radio and good government groups.
Bharara didn’t need an indictment to send lawmakers scurrying for the exits during his visit. Earlier Monday at the Albany Hilton where they both addressed the New York Conference of Mayors, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan bolted up a flight of stairs before Bharara, the man who successfully prosecuted Flanagan’s predecessor, Dean Skelos, took the stage.
Flanagan unsuccessfully tried to avoid reporters who inquired why he wasn’t staying for Bharara’s remarks. He said that he had “appointments” in his office. Flanagan refused to answer questions about what ethics reforms he might support this session, continuing what has been a deafening silence from legislative leaders on ethics reform for the last month.
Flanagan also avoided mentioning ethics in his speech to the mayors conference–Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb both discussed the need for reform. Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Carl Heastie did not attend the event, his surrogate, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, spoke instead and also avoided discussing reform.
“They’re afraid they’re going to get asked questions by the press about ethics reform,” said Barbara Bartoletti of The League of Women Voters. “I would doubt we will hear anything from them on it soon. We have said ‘please open up these leaders’ meetings and tell us what issues you’re looking at in the budget’ but this governor has not done that.”
http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/government/6155-in-albany-bharara-challenges-lawmakers-to-act-not-enable
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