Paladino issues new ethics reform proposals

Carl Paladino's ethics reform platform would seek to forbid new state lawmakers from receiving pensions, make it illegal for legislators to steer discretionary member-item funds to family members and call for a "people's constitutional convention . . . free of lobbyists and politicians," according to a Paladino issue brief obtained Thursday by Newsday.

The Republican candidate for governor's proposal, which includes eight-year term limits for legislators, aims to decentralize the power of the Assembly speaker and Senate majority leader, who control the flow of legislation in Albany. The brief also repeats his earlier proposals to require lawmakers to disclose outside income and appoint a special prosecutor to investigate conflict-of-interest cases.

"Political corruption is a fundamental cause of economic malaise," Paladino said in the issue paper. "Wealth in a modern economy requires rules and certainty."

Paladino's Democratic opponent, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, dismissed the idea of a special prosecutor during an appearance Thursday in Merrick.

"His plan is neither viable nor feasible nor legal," Cuomo said. "It's another idea not grounded in reality."

Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto declined to comment on the new elements in Paladino's proposal.

The issue paper takes direct aim at Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), arguing that his position as a partner at personal-injury law firm Weitz & Luxenberg colors his judgment on legislation.

Silver spokesman Bill Wise said the speaker is "not familiar with Mr. Paladino's proposal and he has no comment."

With Michael Amon