BUFFALO, N.Y. — Running on the platform of ethics reform is nothing new in the State of New York.
However, in light of Thursday's federal jury decision to convict key players of corruption in Governor Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion" economic redevelopment program, Marc Molinaro's announcement concerning ethics reform appears extremely well-timed.
"I believe as most New Yorkers, the time has come," said the republican gubernatorial candidate Thursday morning, about 7 hours before the jury decision was made.
Molinaro touts his 22-page 2019 Albany Accountability Act as "the cleansing agent that will wipe state government clean."
It has a number of goals; from increasing government transparency to closing the LLC Loophole.
The notorious loophole currently allows limited liability corporations to be treated as individuals, allowing them to contribute more money to political campaigns than other businesses.
This is a surprising move since members of his own party have fought to keep the loophole open.
"That may very well be, and I don't care," Molinaro said during his press conference outside the federal courthouse in downtown Buffalo. "I don't care who stands in the way of reforms, I'm not going to Albany to make friends. I'm going to Albany to finally provide the relief the taxpayers deserve and the reforms that workers demand. And I am here to tell you, without question, to those who think that politics is about themselves, to those who believe that public service is about enriching themselves, that ends when I'm governor."
Democrats, like New York State Senator Tim Kennedy, remain skeptical, "I'll believe it when I see it."
"I agree with any political candidate who runs on saying close the LLC loopholes. They gotta do it," Democratic Assemblyman Sean Ryan said. "But I also challenge that political candidate, are you going to take LLC money?"
He also proposes creating term limits: two four-year terms for the governor, attorney general, and state comptroller. Six two-year terms for state legislators.
"I view the term limits as a bit of a red herring," Ryan said. "Because it's easy to say I want it, but really the issue is money and politics. We gotta get the money out of politics."
Democratic Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, has represented District 140 since 1977, and had this to say about term limits, "I say to that, and my constituents know this, when I seek election, I seek election to a limited term. The term is two years. At the end of the two years, people can say we don't like what you've done. You're out, or we want to keep you."
Molinaro also said a big part of his reform plan is to "rethink and resize" economic development programs, halting new direct checks or payments to corporate interests. He assured reporters that this will not affect current development projects in Buffalo.
"On day one, I will convene a real Moreland Commission to investigate public corruption," said Molinaro, referring to the public entity Governor Cuomo created in July 2013 to investigate politicians and political organizations. He disbanded it in 2014.
"I will allow it to do it's job," Molinaro added. "And it will go where is necessary to root out corruption, no matter the party, no matter the offender, no matter the branch of government."
Ethics reforms stalled in Albany during this past 2018 legislative session. Kennedy blames Senate Republicans for the legislation dying, "Our Democratic conference has been calling on the Republican majority, who control what comes to the floor, to bring strong ethics reform to the floor for a vote. They have continually failed to do so."
Schimminger points the finger at Governor Andrew Cuomo, "It is widely thought that the governor big-footed and prevented a number of those changes from happening."
Schimminger admits this does not bode well for the incumbent in his current gubernatorial run.
Molinaro says if he's governor, he hopes to force a vote on the plan as a single package. But if that doesn't happen, he plans to dump it into the budget for a vote.
"They'll have to vote on it. And they'll have to explain their vote. But at the very least, at the very least, we want the vote," Molinaro said.
"I think that those running for state legislature today aught to be able to say up or down if they believe in the reforms," Molinaro added. "And if they believe in the reform, I'll hold them to it, come January first. But beyond that, the state constitution provides the governor an enormous amount of authority in the budget process. If I have to, I'll leverage that power to force votes on these reforms."