Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is urging the Assembly to take up a critical ethics reform bill this week as a report of pension payments to convicted former legislators has gone public. Assembly Bill 4659, which would strip pensions from lawmakers convicted of felonies related to their office, has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations and is awaiting a vote, is sponsored by Friend.

“This is an ethics reform measure that every single member of the Assembly and Senate should sponsor and pass this year,” Friend said. “Corrupt politicians should have absolutely no pension benefits, and the fact that New York still allows this is despicable. These lawmakers have violated the public trust and continue to cipher taxpayer dollars from the state budget. It’s well past time to correct this wrong, and it is my hope that we will take up this constitutional amendment this week.”