Groups Want Change in State Overseers BUFFALO (wned) - Good government groups in Albany are urging Governor David Paterson and New York lawmakers to address the ethics scandals that have recently plagued state government.

The advocates are presenting ideas to reform the state's ethics law and promote openness and accountability in government.

Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group is calling for an independent ethics commission, not one made up of political appointees.

"We don't like self-regulation. The Governor picks the majority of the appointees for the Commission on Public Integrity. The Governor should not control his own watch dog," said Horner.

"We don't think self-regulation works. Clearly the evidence shows that it doesn't work."

NYPIRG, the League of Women Voters and other groups are offering a package of reforms that they say would make New York's ethics law one of the most open and accountable in the nation.
© Copyright 2009, wned