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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Latest Corruption Scandal Spurs More Calls for Reform

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Thursday, October 13, 2016   

ALBANY, N.Y. – Watchdog groups are in Albany today calling on legislative leaders to hold hearings on allegations of corruption in state contracts, and to enact reforms.

The recent indictment of former aides to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on federal charges has dragged corruption in Albany back into the headlines.

Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union of New York City, says his group has a list of actions the Legislature could take to increase transparency and accountability in state government.

"These reforms are aimed at trying to get the money out of our politics, to bring fairness and a competitiveness to the way in which state contracts are awarded, so that New Yorkers can feel that their taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and for the intended purpose," he states.

Those reforms include competitive and transparent contracting for the awarding of all state funds and giving the State Comptroller the power to review and approve all contracts.

Dadey also wants the state to give the public access to a list of all state contracts.

"We want the governor and others to create this database of deals that will allow the public to see the total value of all forms of subsidies awarded to a business,” he explains. “This is something that's been done in six states throughout the country and we believe that New York state should do it."

The most recent allegations of corruption involve the awarding of more than $1 billion in state funds.

Last May, both the former Speaker of the Assembly and the former Senate Majority Leader were sentenced to prison on corruption charges.

Dadey maintains the ongoing stream of scandals calls for a change in priorities.

"We need to shift the focus of the government from penalizing and punishing those convicted of corruption and misconduct to actually trying to prevent the misconduct or corruption from happening," he stresses.

The watchdog groups are presenting their recommendations for reform at a news conference in Albany today.




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