Bill would penalize corrupt officials

ALBANY -- Disgraced and likely bound for prison after admitting he sold his office, former state Sen. Carl Kruger is ready to begin collecting his roughly $75,000-per-year pension -- and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli isn't pleased.

DiNapoli said the Brooklyn Democrat, who pleaded guilty to four federal felonies last month, filed his retirement papers effective Jan. 14. The comptroller said Kruger's criminal actions were "a breach of the public's trust, but the state constitution prevents the forfeiture of his pension."

DiNapoli, who is also a Democrat, said he will urge the legislature to pass a law setting heavy penalties for elected officials, including Kruger and a host of others, who illegally benefit financially from their office.

For the second year running, DiNapoli will submit a program bill to require public officials found guilty of a felony to pay a fine of twice the sum pocketed through their criminal activity. If the comptroller's plan had been made law, Kruger would be expected to pay nearly $1 million in penalties, based on the money prosecutors claim he received illegally in exchange for his official actions as a senator.

Any official misconduct would be considered a felony under the law proposed by DiNapoli, and any violators would be penalized.

"My bill would ensure that those public officials who engage in corrupt practices and wrongdoing will suffer a cost to themselves and their families if they abuse their position for personal gain," he said. "Public confidence in government has been bruised and battered."

The proposals were included in a proposed ethics reform bill put before the legislature last year but failed to survive negotiations.