Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb: Today’s Announcement On Ethics Reform Is Another Step Toward New York Enacting the Toughest Ethics Laws In The Nation

STATEMENT FROM ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER BRIAN M. KOLB (R,I,C-CANANDAIGUA)

“Today I joined Speaker Silver, Leader Sampson and my colleagues during a press conference to announce support for better, stronger ethics in state government and the people serving in it. I believe it is in the best interests of our Assembly Republican Conference – and all the Legislative Conferences – to be in favor of bi-partisan ethics reform. This issue needs to be above partisan politics and today’s announcement is another step in the right direction toward the goal of New York State having the toughest ethics laws in the nation. However, the job is not done and more work remains toward restoring the public’s trust and confidence in their state government. One area we should address is requiring elected officials, regardless of their political party, to forfeit their public pensions if convicted of a crime. That is another common sense, bi-partisan step we can, and should, take during this legislative session.”