It’s amazing some of the reforms they have to implement upon themselves. We wouldn’t have to have these if we actually had people serving in office with their own ethical standards. Apparantly most of our elected representatives don’t have any so we need to put together a list of do nots…. Still they will go thru the list and find ways around ethical standards.

I have no faith in these people. They have done nothing to control themselves in the past so why are a written set of rules going to change things.

NY1: Politics
Spitzer Unveils Ethics Reforms For Lawmakers And Lobbyists

Governor Eliot Spitzer announced Wednesday that he has reached a deal with lawmakers on a plan that will cut down on some political perks and create a watchdog panel for the Capitol.

Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno unveiled a new set of ethics reforms.

Some of the proposed changes include banning all gifts, from lobbyists or non-lobbyists, to a public official, prohibiting state employees from being involved in any personnel decisions involving a relative and prohibiting all statewide officials from receiving payment in exchange for speaking engagements.

“Obviously we’ll have to await the judgment of years to come before we can determine whether or not what we are announcing today will acquire the stature of any of these acts that I have spoken of,” said Spitzer. “But, nonetheless what we’re doing today is a similar and significant step forward.”

The agreement also sets the foundation for a new Legislative Ethics Committee. The group would be made up of four lawmakers and four non-legislators.

“The change in the ethical standards is the biggest single package of improvements probably in the last 20 years,” said a representative from the New York Public Interest Research Group. “The concern we have is on the enforcement side.”

There would also be a new 13-member ethics agency. The legislature still has to approve the plans.