The story behind the score

State integrity news for New York, from the Wall Street Journal:

A state ethics body has asked a high-ranking Senate Republican to respond to ethics allegations stemming from a Yonkers corruption case.Sen. Thomas Libous, a veteran lawmaker from Binghamton, said Tuesday that the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, a new watchdog set up by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers, had formally notified him of a potential ethics inquiry.

It's the first major case since Mr. Cuomo and lawmakers last year overhauled state ethics laws, creating a commission with oversight over the Legislature.

Read the rest of the story at the Wall Street Journal.

State integrity news for New York, from the New York Times:

The former hospital chief executive at the center of a bribery conspiracy that ensnared former State Senator Carl Kruger and others was sentenced on Monday to three years in prison. The former executive, David P. Rosen, 64, had been convicted of bribing Mr. Kruger and two other legislators in return for having them use their influence in Albany to benefit his health care organization.

The conspiracy, which also involved a lobbyist, another hospital executive and a health care consultant, has been seen as casting light on the pervasiveness of corruption in Albany and on the often-cozy ties there between legislators and hospitals.

Read the rest of the story at the New York Times.

State integrity news for New York, from Riverhead Local:

Some people in government think this is a farce. They apparently don't share my view about the importance of transparency in government.

But it's no farce, fellas. Most of what's wrong with government in America today — in the big picture, starting with Washington — is a result of backroom dealings between lobbyists and elected officials who no longer represent the people that represent them.

Read the rest of the story at Riverhead Local.

State integrity news for New York, from the New York Times:

An unusual and well-heeled coalition, trying to tap public anger over the flood of money into politics, is pushing to enact a public financing system for elections in New York State.

They say New York, which they call a symbol of institutionalized corruption, could become a national model for the effort to free elections from the grip of big money. The campaign will start next week with mailings to the constituents of four state senators.

Read the rest of the story at the New York Times.

State integrity news for New York, from The Journal News:

New York voters maintained near record-high job approval of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but were displeased with secretive budget negotiations, a Quinnipiac poll released today found. By a 55 percent to 30 percent margin, voters said that “closed-door negotiations” were not needed to land the major policy changes Cuomo achieved with the state Legislature.

In fact, 76 percent of voters said “the lack of transparency surrounding these major policy deals is a very serious or somewhat serious problem.”

Read the rest of the story at The Journal News.

State integrity news for New York, from the Albany Times-Union:

The governor is thoroughly steeped in hypocrisy when it comes to transparency. The more he utters the word, the less he pays attention to it.

It comes as no surprise that the independent Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C., ranks New York 36th among the states in public accountability. Cuomo's is the least transparent, most micromanaged New York gubernatorial administration in memory.

Read the rest of the story a the Albany Times-Union.

State Integrity news for New York and New Jersey from SII partner WNYC:

In a new report that grades every state by transparency and corruption, New York ranks 36th and New Jersey is ranked as the least-corrupt state in the nation. WNYC reporters Cindy Rodriguez and Bob Hennelly discuss the findings, the (somewhat flawed) methodology, and what's important when it comes to measuring corruption.

Listen to the discussion from WNYC - New York.

By Lucy Komisar

100Reporters, https://100R.org

One could be forgiven for thinking that the New York State Legislature was a criminal enterprise. It had its mafioso style assemblyman, Democrat Tony Seminerio, telling a prospective "client" that he would "bury" him unless he paid off.

It had entrepreneurs like Democratic Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who set up a community health operation and, prosecutors say, looted it for millions.

It even had a comical nickel-and-dime guy, Democratic Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin  (pictured, right), who sent one of his staffers driving on the New York Thruway with his E-ZPass so that McLaughlin could fake time in Albany and collect per diem payments.

State integrity news from New York from SII partner WNYC:

Loopholes and lax government enforcement leave New York’s statehouse ripe for misdeeds, according to a new report that measures state’s risk of corruption.

The state scored an overall 65 or a grade of D, according to a report done by Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International and Global Integrity released Monday.

Read more from WNYC - New York.

Corruption news for New York, from the Press and Sun Bulletin:

A key witness in a federal corruption trial involving three Westchester County political figures has accused Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, of offering increased business to his politically-connected law firm in exchange for a high-paying job for his son, Matthew Libous. In recent testimony, former attorney Anthony Mangone said Libous (pictured, right) called his law firm and asked that they hire his son.

Mangone testified Thursday that Matthew Libous was hired as an associate with a $50,000 salary after the senator made a promise of increased referrals to the firm. Soon, the senator called back and asked the salary to be raised to $100,000, Mangone testified.

Read the rest of the story at the Press and Sun Bulletin.