Bill would prevent taxpayers from footing pols’ legal bills
Originally published in
New York Post
Gianaris initially drafted legislation to eliminate the taxpayer provision in 2015, following the acquittal of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) after his retrial on corruption charges.
Bruno received $1.8 million in public money, and promptly donated more than $1 million to Republican Senate candidates — infuriating Gianaris, who chairs the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.
“That was one of the most egregious examples of a waste of taxpayer money,” Gianaris said.
“Preventing such reimbursements would result in substantial savings to the state.”
Gianaris’ bill has languished since his first introduced it, and there was no immediate action when he asked for a vote by the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee.
Read more: https://nyp.st/2wJ9XM2
