Ethics bill would shine a light

Presented with an ethics reform bill that looks like the real thing, New York residents can't help but wonder what they're missing. While not every item on a reformer's wish list is granted, the agreement in principal announced yesterday by Albany's three men in a backroom makes significant progress toward creating a culture of accountability and disclosure for state elected officials and top appointees.

After Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's relentless criticism that the public was demanding Albany clean up its act, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) reached a compromise that was less than what the governor wanted, but nonetheless turns the corner on reform. Starting in 2012, the legislature, governor and top administration members must disclose all their income, its sources and whether those sources have any business before the state. In other words, anyone using clout and connections to make money would have to reveal that income, in even more exact dollar amounts, or face disciplinary proceedings. So if one member of the Assembly or Senate calls one bureaucrat to get a permit for a client or customer, the public would have to know about it.

Lobbyists would have tougher rules as well, such as having to disclose their legislative contacts to get a bill introduced, not only their work to get a law passed.

Separate from the new rules for elected and executive branch officials, the proposed bill would create a "Project Sunlight" database to list all businesses and law firms that represent clients before the state and the nature of their contacts with officials. While the final draft of the bill awaits, it promises the public and the press more tools than ever before to "follow the money" and uncover conflicts of interest.

So considerably stricter rules would be in place, but it remains to be seen whether the new body created to actually enforce them can get the job done. The bill would create a bipartisan oversight committee, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, with subpoena power to investigate violations. No current or former legislators or administration member would be allowed to serve. However, legislators were concerned that the majority could use the commission for political gain, so two members of the same party could veto the initiation of any investigation. That means some smelly deed could get swept under the rug, as previous oversight boards have often done in the past. But it's a risk worth taking to get the other major changes in Albany's back-scratching culture this bill can bring.

And there now may be some real deterrence to misbehaving: Any public officials convicted of a felony related to their government job could have their pensions revoked or diminished as part of their punishment.

This bill is necessary to restore confidence in Albany. But it's only a first step; campaign financing reform and honest redistricting must follow. The never-changing connections between power and money in Albany will remain, but with this bill, the public will be better able to connect the dots.