Cuomo: Legislative Ethics Reforms Must Be Part Of State Budget
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that he is sticking with a promise not to sign a state budget without legislative ethics reforms.
But he signaled that some other priorities may not be included as negotiations with lawmakers over the budget heat up ahead of an April 1 deadline.
Cuomo's spokeswoman said Monday that ``nothing has changed'' when it comes to Cuomo's insistence that the budget include greater disclosure of lawmakers' outside income. The idea has run into Senate opposition.
"A budget done with both houses must include ethics reform," Communications Director Melissa DeRosa said in a statement. "The governor believes that the concerns of legislators who have outside employment such as a law practice have been addressed consistent with his program for increased ethics disclosure and transparency."
DeRosa conceded that other proposals may not make the final budget agreement with lawmakers, including Cuomo's call to authorize more charter schools and the DREAM Act, which would extend aid to students in the country illegally.
"The governor supports passage of both and included them in his budget," DeRosa said in the statement. "If they don't pass in the budget, they could still pass in regular session."
Senate Republicans oppose the DREAM Act while many Assembly Democrats oppose allowing more charters.
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