Following the conviction in federal court by another disgraced former legislative leader, it has never been more apparent that ethics reform must be a top priority for Albany this year. No longer can our government operate under the lingering cloud of corruption.

We must enact term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs, to ensure power does not lead to corruption. And, if convicted of crimes related to their offices, elected officials must be removed from the taxpayer-financed pensions. Both Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos will be receiving pensions around $90,000. Convicted felons should not have their retirements paid for by the people of New York.

Finally, we must change the way in which our legislature operates. The state legislature should meet biennially for three months, and after securing a two-year budget, they should go home to live under the laws they’ve drafted. Most importantly, legislators pay must be cut, not raised as so many are suggesting. This is a part-time citizen legislature. We should be paid as such.