Walsh Calls For Transparency, Accountability in Funding Of State Economic Development Initiatives

Today, Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I,Ref-Ballston) joined Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R,C,I,Ref-Canandaigua) and several of her legislative colleagues in calling on state leadership to take up meaningful ethics reform in the waning days of this year’s session. The lawmakers called for a vote on several initiatives aimed at increasing accountability, transparency and honesty in state government, including bi-partisan legislation establishing a database of economic development deals, FOIL requirements for quasi-governmental agencies, enhanced reporting for the struggling Start-Up NY program, applying Public Officers Law to REDCs, and the Procurement Integrity Act.

“With another corruption trial linked to the funding of our state’s economic development programs set to begin in the coming weeks, I was honored to stand alongside my colleagues today in reaffirming our commitment to delivering the accountable and transparent state government all New Yorkers deserve,” said Walsh. “We cannot allow another legislative session to pass without answering the statewide calls for ethics reform, and I urge our state’s leadership to join us in taking the necessary steps to ensure New York’s hardworking taxpayers know how their money is being spent.”