Ethics reform that Albany would support

There’s a ton of appetite out there right now for true, unambiguous ethics reform in Albany.

The Glens Falls Post Star argues today that the ‘time for change is now.’

The fact that [former Senate majority leader and Glens Falls native Joe Bruno] was cleared of all but two of the charges reflects not so much his innocence of any wrongdoing, but rather the pathetic weakness of state ethics laws and the ability of politicians to easily avoid getting caught committing a crime.

What the trial revealed was an unwritten nature of “You grease my palm, I’ll grease the skids” in Albany.

Unfortunately, the lawmakers get to write the rules that they live by. In Albany, that’s not exactly a formula for openness, transparency and fairness.

So here’s my proposal for a bill that lawmakers might embrace.

First, incorporate the full slate of good-government ideas floating around out there. Here’s the Post-Star’s package, which covers most of the bases.

[W]e need to close loopholes in our laws to require state lawmakers to disclose all sources of their income. We need to require that lawmakers and their powerful subordinates disclose the names of all the clients of their law firms and businesses who do business with the state.

We should demand that legislators subject themselves to the Open Meetings Law and the Freedom of Information Law so that the public can monitor their activities.

We need to demand they disclose their meeting schedules so we can see who is influencing them.

And we need to push for a truly independent ethics organization, with the power to monitor activities and investigate wrong-doing and issue subpoenas.

(Here’s the New York Times’ slate of proposed reforms.)

All great and good. But what’s in it for the lawmakers? How do we sweeten the pot so the legislature will buy it?

Easy. Expand the terms of office in the Assembly from two to four years, and the state Senate from two to six years.

Already, the election cycle is too fast, with lawmakers barely unpacking their boxes in Albany before the next campaign season begins.

Lawmakers with a slightly longer fuse on each term might actually legislate and govern, without constantly checking their decisions with the special-interest groups that dominate New York politics.

Some critics would argue that this proposal doesn’t work without term limits.

I disagree. If we have longer terms, along with stringent ethics oversight, the public will get plenty of say in Albany.