FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY

CONTACT: JOSH REAP (518) 455-5981

STATEMENT FROM ASSEMBLYMAN FINCH ON ETHICS REFORM

     This week the state Assembly passed an ethics reform plan, which is largely based on Assembly Republican proposals that will help to set higher ethical standards for public officials, reorganize the Legislative Ethics Committee, establish an independent public integrity panel and significantly strengthen penalties for violations. My conference members and I have long fought to reform ethics policies in New York state government.

     I supported two amendments to the bill, one which would have prohibited convicted felons from collecting their state pensions, and another proposal which would have required a public hearing on ethics reform prior to it being enacted into law. Both measures were meant to make a good bill better, however, Speaker Silver and Assembly Democrats voted down the proposals.

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