Ethics plan

The state Legislature Thursday waded into its own ethical morass with a reform proposal that will bring some transparency to legislators' income but falls short of sweeping changes.

Lawmakers now have to report their income within established ranges. But it is meaningless since even that information is redacted in public reports. The agreement by the Assembly and Senate will require disclosure of the income ranges as well, giving the public a vague idea of how much lawmakers earn from outside work.

The provision is aimed at what has become known as the "Bruno gap" after former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno. He was convicted of federal fraud charges but acquitted on others after maintaining he complied with all disclosure laws while still collecting millions of dollars as a consultant to firms doing business with the state.

However, in a major loophole, attorney-legislators, such as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Democratic Conference leader John L. Sampson, will be exempted from proposed requirements to reveal clients for whom they work as consultants along with the services they perform.

Lobbyists and other entities doing business with the state will have to reveal their financial relationship with lawmakers which extends to money paid to a consulting or legal firm that employs a public official.

Oversight will be divided among three different groups, but their members would be appointed by the governor and legislators raising doubts about their independence. A better path is Gov. David A. Paterson's plan for independent oversight.

Good government groups are divided over the proposed changes as a work in progress. But it is a sad commentary that this nominal step forward is the best that legislators can do to police their own conduct.