Witnesses At Public Hearing Say JCOPE Not Living Up To Its Mission
WSHU Public Radio, October 15, 2015
Witnesses At Public Hearing Say JCOPE Not Living Up To Its Mission
JCOPE has the authority to go after bigger fish, but is not using it, said Daniel Karson with the New York City Bar Association‘s Committee on Government Ethics. He says 13 state lawmakers have been convicted of crimes or fined for what he calls “self-dealing,” where the legislator set up a not for profit in their name or in a family member’s name, then directed state funds to the organizations. Karson says JCOPE has the power to ban lawmakers from engaging in outside activities that create the “appearance of impropriety,” because they or a family member would personally profit from the arrangement. “We believe that JCOPE can take direct action now without any enabling legislation, to end this abuse,” Karson said.
