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NEW YORK—Gov. David Paterson seeks a compromise with the state senators on their recently released ethics reforms.
According to an announcement on Saturday, the governor will introduce an ethics reform bill on Monday in an attempt to come to an agreement with legislators.
Paterson last month proposed an ethics reform that was ultimately not agreed upon by Albany lawmakers, who then introduced their own piece of reform legislature.
Last week, the governor vetoed the bill.
"Numerous attempts to sit down and negotiate a stronger, more effective Albany reform package, in an effort to reach compromise, have been met with resistance," the governor said in a release.
Under Paterson's original proposal, lawmakers would have term limits as well as restrictions on campaign financing. The bill that the Democratic legislative leaders proposed included separate oversight committees to regulate campaign finance, lawmakers, special interest groups, and the executive branch.
At the time, the governor said lawmakers' proposal fell short, adding that the oversight committees would be elected by legislators, which he says would not be effective in reducing corruption.
As a result, Paterson said he would etch out a new bill in “increasing oversight and enhancing transparency” for both the Assembly and the Senate. Other proposed reforms include limiting campaign finance for lawmakers by 50 percent and returning unused campaign funds upon leaving public office.
In the past, Paterson said lawmakers didn't want to compromise or work with the governor, while legislators accused Paterson of not wanting a compromise.
Senate and Assembly leaders did not give any immediate response to the governor's proposal for a new ethics reform bill.
"I can't comment on a bill negotiated in secret with the Senate minority," said Austin Shafran, spokesman for Democratic Senate Majority Leader John Sampson in an Associated Press article.
Shafran added, "Sen. Sampson is prepared to override the veto and deliver real ethics reform."
