20 December 2021: Lawmakers Propose New Laws to Prevent Another Cuomo-Type Book Deal Scandal

Bill inspired by Cuomo book deal would outlaw state 'volunteer' work

This report describes new legislation that was introduced on Friday, December 17, 2021:

In response to the Andrew Cuomo book scandal, state legislation has been introduced to make it abundantly clear that state officials cannot influence their workers to help them with money-making projects or side business dealings.

The legislation, introduced Friday in the State Senate, seeks to address allegations in an Assembly Judiciary Committee report that found Cuomo had numerous senior and junior staffers helping with his $5.1 million book deal, including people researching, writing and helping promote the book during work hours.

“The law should have already been clear that this was not allowed. I believe what happened was already illegal, but this makes it evidently clear that employees shouldn’t be doing that," Assemblywoman Monica Wallace, a Lancaster Democrat, said.

Wallace is sponsoring the bill in the Assembly; State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Nassau County Democrat and former federal prosecutor, introduced it in the Senate on Friday.

It's rather amazing that no elected officials in New York had ever previously considered introducing such legislation in the state's entire history. Or rather, that they knew it would pose an ethical problem, then chose to not set obvious limits on corrupt conduct by elected and appointed government officials.