New York State Assembly

"The Governor's announcement regarding the Public Trust Act represents a necessary step in addressing corruption in public office - and that is encouraging. But I am more encouraged that he has recognized this is a first step, and that much more needs to be done to effectively deter and punish behavior from New York's elected officials that erodes the public's faith in government.

During the next several weeks, the Assembly Minority Conference will expand on existing bills, devise new ideas and develop new legislation that specifically targets the problem of corruption and criminal activity in state government. We have proposed measures that directly address this issue, and are committed to advancing initiatives that:

• provide for the forfeiture of pensions for convicted state officials;

• institute term limits for legislative leaders;

• increase criminal penalties for wrongdoers;

• evaluate campaign finance rules and regulations; and

• review the effectiveness and current construct of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE).

As public servants, our greatest responsibility to New Yorkers during the remainder of the 2013 Legislative Session is to deliver meaningful and effective initiatives that root out corruption, curtail abuses of power and restore public confidence in government."