Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) announced that she helped pass important ethics reform measures. The measures include a bill she co-sponsored stripping taxpayer-funded pensions from officials convicted of corruption (A.1749) as well as a joint resolution requiring lawmakers who earn outside income to submit information to the independent Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) for an advisory opinion (B.404/C.25).

“Members of the legislature are here to serve the hardworking people of New York,” said Woerner. “Politicians who betray the public trust need to be held accountable for their actions.”

This is the second time the pension forfeiture bill has passed the Legislature (A.10739-A of 2016). Upon passing both houses, it will be put on the ballot in November as a referendum to amend the state constitution.

The joint resolution, which also passed the Senate and takes effect immediately, requires legislators who earn over $5,000 in outside income to seek a ruling from the LEC to determine whether a conflict of interest exists. Current legislators are required to submit information within 30 days if they plan to continue to earn outside income.

“Elected officials are not above the law,” said Woerner. “These measures are important steps in the process of reigning in the corruption that has plagued the legislature for too long.”