For Immediate Release: December 14, 2015

Contact: Gary Ginsburg | ginsburg@nysenate.gov | 518-455-2415

Statement From Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

The people of New York are demanding change and the Republicans must stop burying their
heads in the sand. Clearly, this Siena poll confirms what we have been saying, voters have lost
faith in their state government. The Senate Democrats have introduced common sense bills that
include: implementing a full-time Legislature and restricting legislators outside income and
work, closing the LLC loophole, prohibiting taxpayer reimbursement of campaign and legal
defense funds and various other reforms. Now is the time for action.
BACKGROUND:
Read the full Siena poll here:
https://www.siena.edu/assets/files/news/SNY_December_2015_Poll_Release_--_FINAL.pdf
Two GOP Leaders Convicted of Corruption and they Still Refuse to Act

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/skelos-conviction-won-bring-major-reformssenate-leaders-article-1.2463721
excerpt from article:
"But as the trial played out, Flanagan also downplayed the need for additional
ethics reforms. And he and DeFrancisco have pooh-poohed the idea of restricting
outside work for lawmakers.
The Senate GOP has also long opposed the idea of closing what's known as the LLC
loophole that allows companies to give virtually unlimited donations by creating
limited liability corporations.

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/30374/20151211/sen-skelos-and-sonfound-guilty-on-all-eight-founts
excerpt from article:
In a statement, the current Senate Leader John Flanagan, who like Skelos is a
Republican, said he is deeply saddened by the verdict. Flanagan vowed to work to
restore the public trust, but did not offer specific steps.
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New York State Senate | DemocraticConferenceNews@nysenate.gov | 518-455-2415