Cuomo: Legislature could block ethics bills, still get raise
Gov. Andrew Cuomo at a rally for fair wages and paid family leave on March 10, 2016 in Manhattan. Credit: EPA / Justin Lane
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday criticized the Legislature for failing to include meaningful ethics reforms in its budget proposals this week, but stopped short of saying he would oppose raises for them this year, even if they fail to enact any new measures.
“I was disappointed,” Cuomo told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t think anyone in good faith could leave Albany until we get things done” on ethics proposals after “a wholly unprecedented year, in terms of investigations of legislators.”
He referred to the corruption convictions of the former Senate and Assembly leaders late this past year.
But Cuomo said failure by legislators to enact any ethics reform wouldn’t necessarily prompt him to oppose pay raises for legislators. Raises are expected to be announced after the legislative elections in November by a pay raise commission Cuomo helped create. Legislators now make a base salary of $79,500 a year, but with leadership roles and per diem payments for work in Albany most lawmakers make $100,000 or more.
“Well, that’s going to be a different issue in and of itself,” Cuomo said. The commission is expected to recommend raises for statewide elected officials, including governor, and some executive branch employees. The raises will become effective Jan. 1 without requiring a vote by the Legislature, although lawmakers could reject the recommendations.
Asked if he would be critical of raises if legislators refused to enact any new ethics laws, Cuomo said he doesn’t think he has the power to stop the raises.
Asked if he would consider pairing the issues -- he has done so with his priorities of raising the minimum wage and enacting paid family leave for workers -- and he said: “I would consider anything. Let’s see what happens in the session . . . Let’s see how legislators perform and then the pay raise will be a separate topic.”
The Senate’s Republican majority dropped Cuomo’s ethics proposals. Cuomo’s proposal includes limiting outside income of legislators to about $11,900 a year similar to Congress’ limits; requiring state officials to forfeit their state pensions if convicted of corruption; and closing the so-called LLC loophole that allows corporations to use subsidiaries to vastly exceed corporate limits on campaign donations. Cuomo’s campaign has collected millions through these LLCs.
The Assembly’s Democratic majority proposes limiting outside income of legislators to $70,000 a year.
Cuomo also said the ethics debate could be made after the state budget. The budget is due by April 1 and under budget law the governor has extraordinary leverage to get his policy measures passed.
“The time for the budget is short, but the time for the session is the time for the session is long and I consider this a major priority,” Cuomo said.
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
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