The on going ethics law creation farce is a diversion for New York, so NY politicians avoid increasing the criminal penalty for official misconduct to a felony.
"Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey was quite cutting as his organization released its second look in as many years at legislative turnover. ...'While crime has declined in many parts of New York State, there is a crime wave in Albany that needs to be stopped,' Dadey said. Thirteen legislators in the past six years have left office due to criminal charges or ethical misconduct; just nine have departed in the last two years."
Ethics commissions are jokes. Jail works better and has a deterrent effect.
Albany ethics are an Albany Swamp joke. Link 1 Link 2
Does Rep. Charles Rangel belong in jail or is he a "victim" of ethics charges?
A simple change in New York Penal Law was already proposed on this blog, and that prior post's letter is condensed and slightly modified below:
To Governor Andrew Cuomo, NY Assembly members, NY Senators, NY Times, Times Union and others:
We,the People, demand tough law to stop NY government corruption. NY penal law for Official Misconduct copied here has a misdemeanor penalty, which is oft bargained down. Corruption prosecuted in NY under federal law is usually for felonies. We, the People, want a Better Law.
Old version of Penal Law (with changes in red): § 195.00 Official misconduct. A public servant is guilty of official misconduct when, with intent to obtain a benefit or deprive another person of a benefit: 1. He commits an act relating to his office but constituting an unauthorized exercise of his official functions, knowing that such act is unauthorized; or
2. He knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed upon him by law or is clearly inherent in the nature of his office.
3. Judges, judicial employees, employees of all NY State entities under judicial supervision and the Commission on Judicial Conduct are included as public servants under this law. Official misconduct is a class C felony.
Are you with us Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Member, Senator, the NYT , the Times Union? Put up the law or shut up the corruption rhetoric.
