White Plains CitizeNetReporter - <i>Adam In Albany:</i> The New Assemblyman on Lobbying and Disclosure

WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. June 20, 2003:For the last several years, from the front pages to editorials in newspapers across the state, public outcry for lobby reform has grown steadily louder and public confidence in the process has been in decline. I have called for sweeping reforms of these unregulated practices.

Literally billions of taxpayer dollars flow into these contracts every year and, under current law, no one is accountable for the millions and millions of dollars spent behind the scenes to influence lucrative state and municipal contracts. Right now, rampant lobbying has become a blemish on New York’s democracy and an obstruction to the open, good government New York needs and deserves.

This year, I supported legislation to strengthen and expand controls on government lobbying (A.9062). This measure would extend oversight to include the vast and largely unregulated area of procurement of goods and services for state agencies, local governments and public authorities. This legislation would also shine a light on lobbying of state agencies and on those who attempt to influence the governor on the issuing of executive orders.

Currently, those that lobby state agencies are completely unrestricted. One famous lobbyist was paid $500,000 simply for making a call to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This unregulated activity must stop.

Current law covers disclosure of lobbying associated with legislative decisions, but does not cover the awarding of state or municipal contracts or lobbying of state agencies or the governor and his staff for the issuance of executive orders.

The Assembly’s bill would expand the definition of lobbying to include any effort to influence the action of any public official – state or municipal – regarding procurement of goods and services. This includes efforts to influence the implementation of rules and regulations, as well as executive decisions regarding legislation, and executive orders.

The Assembly’s reforms are part of the common sense solutions necessary to beginning the process of closing all the loopholes that undermine good government. These significant reforms will go a long way toward bringing greater accountability and oversight to the important decisions which are made in the corridors of our government, and ensure that there is accountability for those that act on behalf of the special interests instead of the public good.


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