Poll: New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Concerned About Corruption
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Yorkers overwhelmingly believe political corruption in the state is a big problem, according to a new poll.
The survey by Quinnipiac University, released Thursday, found that 89 percent of voters consider corruption to be a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" issue, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
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"And they don't think Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo's doing a terribly good job in fixing it," added Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
Voters disapproved, 54 percent to 35 percent, of the way Cuomo is handling ethics in government, the poll found.
New Yorkers also overwhelmingly said elected officials should be required to disclose income from outside jobs and investments.
"They tell the Quinnipiac poll that they want legislators to tell how much they earn, and they want that in big numbers -- 84 (percent) to 13," Carroll said.
The poll found that 64 percent of voters also believe elected officials' spouses and live-in partners should be required to disclose the amount and source of their incomes as well.
The debate over outside income has intensified since the arrest of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in January on corruption charges.
Federal prosecutors charged him with taking nearly $4 million in kickbacks from law firms that benefited indirectly from grants he authorized to a medical clinic and real estate legislation. He is keeping his Assembly seat and has vowed to be exonerated.
On Wednesday, Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced a deal on an ethics reform package that would require lawmakers to disclose all outside income over $1,000 and make lawyers serving in the Legislature identify clients who pay more than $5,000, with exceptions for sensitive cases. The plan must be approved by the Legislature.
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has called for raising legislators' $79,500 pay for what's considered part-time work to somewhere between the $112,500 New York City Council members are paid and the $174,000 annual salaries for members of Congress.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have proposed putting a tight limit on legislative moonlighting to reduce corruption. Under the legislation, lawmakers could make about $12,000, or 15 percent of their base salary, in outside income. The limit is similar to one imposed on Congress.
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