NY Senator Bruno's Indictment Shows Us Once Again That Ethics Self-Enforcement Doesn't Work
Former New York State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has been <a href="http://news.findlaw.com/nytimes/docs/nys/usbruno12309ind.html" target="”_blank”">indicted</a>
by a federal grand jury, but his biggest crime was not taking millions
of dollars in so-called consulting fees. His biggest crime was standing
in the way of any meaningful ethics reform in New York State.<br>
<br>
Here's <a href="http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&…; target="”_blank”">what
Susan Lerner</a>, executive director of Common Cause/New York said
about the indictment (Disclosure: I was on the board of
Connecticut Common Cause in 2006-2007, and have done volunteer
municipal ethics and charter reform-related work for it for several
years) :<br>
<br>
<div>This is an indictment of not only Joe
Bruno, but New York State’s ethics laws. The man who held the
highest position of power in the state legislature for years is
formally accused of betraying the public interest on behalf of his self
interest. Joe Bruno’s indictment emphatically highlights the
shameful state of New York’s ethics laws, graphically demonstrating why
the Legislature should not be expected to police the ethics of its own
members. Even more disquieting is the fact that, in practice, for
years, the only meaningful ethics and corruption oversight in New York
State is by federal agents and United States Attorneys. This is a
sad day for Joe Bruno, and sadder still for the New York Legislature.<br>
</div>
<br>
Local government ethics programs in New York State, outside of New York
City, aren't that good, either.<br>
<br>
What is especially clear from this indictment is that self-enforcement
of ethics by the state legislature does not work. When such a visible
figure can be allowed to do what Bruno has done, how can any legislator
in New York keep a straight face talking about self-enforcement.
Self-enforcement in government ethics at all levels of government must
end.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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