For Release: IMMEDIATELY, April 30, 2013

Contact: Michael Fraser, (518) 455-3751

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ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER BRIAN M. KOLB

(R,C,I-CANANDAIGUA) AND CONFERENCE MEMBERS ISSUE

CALL TO REMOVE PENSIONS OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS

AND ENACT LEADERSHIP TERM LIMITS

“The Time To Walk the Walk on Public Corruption is Long Overdue”

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua) today joined his fellow

members of the Minority Conference to support two significant pieces of legislation

aimed at addressing public corruption and improved accountability from legislative

leaders. The bills would remove pensions from individuals convicted of public

corruption crimes, and institute term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs.

Both Minority-sponsored bills were considered by the Assembly Committees today.

However, the Majority-led committees held up both pieces of anti-corruption legislation,

eliminating the possibility of a debate or vote on the Assembly floor.

“The time to walk-the-walk on public corruption is long overdue. We have proposed two

initiatives that directly target the public corruption issue every legislator claims they are

trying to address. The Majority’s decision to delay the process isn’t only curious – it’s

irresponsible,” Leader Kolb said. “Public officials who betray the trust of their

constituents should be stripped of taxpayer-funded pensions – that’s just common sense.

Putting term limits on legislative leaders facilitates new ideas, encourages fresh

perspectives, and eliminates the perception of ‘absolute power’ in Albany. I am proud to

represent a Conference that is actually being a part of the solution, rather than an ongoing

part of the problem.”

Pension Forfeiture (A.4935, Stec)

The Assembly Governmental Employees Committee today refused to move forward with

Minority-sponsored legislation (A.4935, Stec) that calls for the removal of pension and

retirement benefits from individuals convicted of felony offenses directly related to their

assigned duties while serving as elected officials or officers of the state.

The “Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011” allowed for the forfeiture of pensions for

public officials convicted of felony offenses, but applied to only those who entered office

after the law took effect in November 2011. The reason for this is that the New York

State Constitution Article 5; Section 7, prohibits the pension benefits of current public

employees from being diminished or impaired.

-MORE-

Leader Kolb and Conference Members Address Public Corruption

Page 2 – 4/30/13

As part of his legislation, Assemblyman Daniel Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) has proposed a

Constitutional Amendment that would make all public officials subject to pension

forfeiture upon conviction, regardless of when they entered office. This bill has been

introduced in the Assembly since 2010, but has been has never made it out of the

Governmental Employees Committee.

Term Limits for Leaders (A.1571, Kolb)

The Assembly Governmental Operations Committee today also held legislation (A.1571,

Kolb) that limits the time any Assembly Member or Senator may serve as a legislative

leader or committee chair to no more than four consecutive two-year terms.

This bill has been introduced in the Assembly since 2009, but has never made it out of

the Governmental Operations Committee. The purpose would be to provide fresh

perspectives from legislators, allow a more open exchange of ideas and limit the

accumulation of power from long tenures of holding the same leadership position.

In addition to calling for leadership term limits, Leader Kolb is the only legislative leader

who does not receive outside income from other employment, who represents Upstate

New York and who has successfully owned and operated a business.

Assemblyman Stec said, “I am disheartened that the Assembly Majority chose to bury my

legislation stripping elected officials of their state pension if they are convicted of a

felony. It’s clear that the current system is broken and that our residents deserve better

than having their hard-earned tax dollars going towards funding a cushy retirement for

politicians who have abused the public trust.”

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I-Brooklyn, Staten Island), the Ranker on the

Governmental Employees Committee said, “With elected officials throughout the state

behind bars and more facing criminal charges, it is deplorable that any legislator could

oppose such a common-sense, anti-corruption measure. Taxpayers cannot be expected to

fund the retirement of a corrupt official who has betrayed the public trust. The public is

tired of business as usual at the Capitol, and unfortunately, this is a prime example of the

‘Bad Old Days’ in Albany.”

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey (R,I-Peru), the Ranker on the Governmental Operations

Committee said, “I support a state constitutional amendment that would ensure public

officials who are convicted of a felony would lose their pensions. Convicted felons

should not be entitled to taxpayer-funded retirement benefits. Every effort must be taken

to end political corruption, and this proposed constitutional amendment would allow

voters to send a strong message to their elected officials.”

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