GOP senator: Ban outside incomes in wake of Silver verdict

An upstate Republican senator is calling for a ban on outside incomes for New York lawmakers in the wake of the conviction of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Sen. John Bonacic (R-Mount Hope) said state legislators, currently considered part-time, should get a raise but be forced to forgo other employment. His stance is notable because Senate Republicans have been the leading voice against a ban on outside incomes.

In a statement, Bonacic said:

“Every legislator was shocked to hear about the questionable practices of the former Speaker, and his accumulation of ill-gotten millions while in public office. All of his questionable conduct was also done in a very secretive way, and I am not surprised by the jury’s guilty verdict.”

“I believe that if we ban outside income from active employment for elected officials, and pay them a livable wage to raise their families, it will go a long way to cure the temptation of a few to engage in this type of bad behavior.”