Peter Grimm, Rensselaer County Legislator from Troy, sponsored a resolution on Monday urging New York State officials to promptly pass ethics reform legislation.  Recent events and public opinion suggest an urgent need for state government to make ethics reform a priority as a
step toward restoring citizens’ trust in their elected officials, particularly in the wake of recent reports from several jurors in the trial of former State Senator Joseph L. Bruno.  Bruno was convicted on two of eight felony federal corruption counts for depriving the public of “honest services” by using his position as one of the State’s most powerful leaders to reap more than $3.2 million in consulting fees while failing to disclose his conflicts of interest.   Several jurors
have publicly stated that they were stunned by the lack of disclosure requirements and the inadequacies of state ethics laws for government officials.  They questioned why state lawmakers have not addressed ethics reform sooner.

Grimm’s resolution asserts that all residents have a right to expect that government operate honestly, justly and transparently and should have no doubt about the integrity of their elected officials. “As a strong proponent of accountability and holding public officials to the
highest standards of conduct, I believe that the Rensselaer County Legislature ought to be the first governmental body to go on record urging New York State to pass ethics reforms.”

Some state government officials along with several citizen action groups have for years recommended ethics reform legislation that includes expanding disclosure of financial and business dealings of public officials, amendments to the conflict of interest laws, changes to the Commission on Public Integrity, as well as providing web-based public access to ethics disclosures of public officials. Referring to instances of infractions from both political parties,
Grimm stated, “Much needed ethics reform will fundamentally change the culture of state government and bring meaningful oversight to all levels and once again engender public confidence.”  As the newly elected Rensselaer County legislature convenes in January, Grimm
anticipates bipartisan support for openness and accountability in the area of government ethics.