Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein on Tuesday called ethics reform legislation “the most important” issue in Albany.
He added that if an agreement is reached on ethics reform legislation, broader deals could be reached on the budget, due next week.
“I think ethics reform is probably the most important issue we’re going to be dealing with,” Klein said in an interview. “I understand if we get it done, everything kind of flows from there.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week announced Assembly Democrats backed his disclosure and per diem reform proposals along with a constitutional amendment to expand pension forfeiture.
Senate Republicans, however, have reservations over the disclosure of private business clients and have proposed alternative financial disclosure rules aimed at the executive branch.
Klein himself has proposed the creation of a full-time Legislature by banning outside income of state lawmakers.
At the same time, Klein stepped away from his Bronx law firm where he had been a partner.
“I put my money where my mouth is,” he said.
Ethics reform legislation was re-injected into the Albany budget debate this year following the arrest of former Speaker Sheldon Silver on corruption charges.
While Cuomo’s office has indicated a number of measures have fallen off the budget negotiating table, the governor reiterated that he won’t support a budget agreement without ethics reform (Cuomo has referred to this as “approving” a budget, which the governor does not actually do).
Still, Cuomo’s ethics push with the Senate Republicans comes as he still must convince Assembly Democrats to go along with his education reform proposals.
“I’m hopeful we all can come together and can come up with a plan to deal with all the problems we have in Albany,” Klein said. “I don’t think we can forward unless we come up with a plan to address ethics in Albany.”