Guv calls ethics reform bill a top priority

ALBANY - Perhaps the most dramatic moment of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's budget address Tuesday had nothing to do with the budget.

The governor, his tone turning cajoling, called for passage of an ethics reform bill, saying it was his top priority besides the budget.

"Why?" Cuomo said. "To restore your credibility and restore your integrity and say to the people of this state they can trust this body called the legislature once again."

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) bristled a bit at the lecturing tone and signaled that legislators might buck the governor.

"I'm for transparency and I'm for more disclosure," Skelos said. "But I also believe that the Legislature has to be part of the process. This not going to be a process where everything is driven by the executive branch."

Republicans last year helped block the override of former Gov. David A. Paterson's veto of an ethics reform measure. Speaker Sheldon Silver, who has allowed ethics bills to pass the Democrat-controlled Assembly, said there was "no question" ethics reform was needed. But he said the executive branch needs to rebuild trust, too.

"It's about the government. Period," Silver said. "People are frustrated . . . and it's beyond the Legislature."

Cuomo said last week that he is working with Silver, Skelos and Senate Democrats to write an ethics reform bill. An official with knowledge of Cuomo and lawmakers' talks said campaign finance and redistricting were not part of the discussions.

Instead, the leaders were focused on income and client disclosures, an ethics investigatory commission and lobbying rules, the official said. Ethics investigators would be named by an appointing commission with members selected by the governor and legislative leaders, the official said.

With Yancey Roy