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    Maj. MalfunctionHamilton Nolan
    3/14/16 4:00pm

    Wait wait wait. Wait a sec. Wait —

    and Republicans want no limit

    So you’re saying Republicans — the GOP — the party of LincolnReagan — doesn’t want any limits on the influence of cash. I swear I’ve heard something like this before ...

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      nov15-22Maj. Malfunction
      3/14/16 4:21pm

      To be fair, a member of the State Assembly makes $79,500 a year and for April - June of this year, will only meet for 27 days (i.e. less than 1 out of 3 days). To say that they may have a second job (law practice, run their business) is not too hard to imagine.

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      Maj. Malfunctionnov15-22
      3/14/16 4:26pm

      And combined with the $70K limit that Democrats have proposed on outside money, that would be a very livable wage. Albany’s not that expensive.

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    Cherith CutestoryHamilton Nolan
    3/14/16 4:01pm

    The lowest number is not inherently the least corrupt.

    The proposed package from the Assembly includes new limitations on the type of work done. A very small number is just an excuse for a politician to look tough while knowing that ways to get around it with soft money will immediately pop up and not caring much about that.

    And the Assembly plan “included a plan to close the so-called L.L.C. loophole”, which Cuomo supported in the past but hasn’t included in his plan now.

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      ReburnsABurningReturnsCherith Cutestory
      3/14/16 4:15pm

      Are you an NY native?

      Do you regard Cuomo as corrupt or just ruthlessly self-centered/ambitious?

      The reason I ask is because the guy is, with one very short exception in the early 90s, a lifelong regulator/politician. I guess my question is whether or not this law won’t be sort of like term limits. Nice in theory, but in practice it just makes it easier for various special interest groups to wholly own the legislative process because they find loopholes to exploit that less seasoned and more financially beholden legislators have a hard time dealing with.

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      gramercypoliceCherith Cutestory
      3/14/16 4:19pm

      Not to mention, of that $12,000 limit, the legislators would have to give Cuomo $7,500 in Tribute payments.

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    e.nonHamilton Nolan
    3/14/16 3:55pm

    Cuomo's suggestion was nothing more that pure political calculation — and talking point — in his future campaigns.. he knows $12k is a nonstarter with albany and has less of a chance getting approved than I have getting elected governor.

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      Justice Rains From My Butte.non
      3/14/16 4:20pm

      It also redirects attention from his own corruption:

      http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/nyr…

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    dothedewHamilton Nolan
    3/14/16 4:04pm

    Here’s a crazy idea. Pay NY State legislators a living wage and call it a full time job and don’t allow any outside income except blindly managed investment returns.

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      InTheStilldothedew
      3/14/16 5:03pm

      Exactly. It’s currently a part time job and you literally have nothing to do since the government is managed by 3 people.

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    Quasar FunkHamilton Nolan
    3/14/16 3:55pm

    Contemplate a setting in which Andrew Cuomo is the least corrupt thinker.

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      SktroopHamilton Nolan
      3/14/16 4:02pm

      As a recipient of Social Security, I’m limited to about $15K income above and beyond benefits. Why shouldn’t lawmakers outside income be limited to a modest amount?

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        ReburnsABurningReturnsHamilton Nolan
        3/14/16 4:06pm

        Isn’t the real corruption problem less about whatever primary occupation they might have and more about side and backroom deals they may contemplate?

        I mean, take Cuomo, for instance. He is, with one very short exception in the early 90s, a lifelong politician and/or regulator, and people who know New York politics better than I all seem to have very dim opinions of the guy.

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          Sid and FinancyHamilton Nolan
          3/14/16 4:02pm

          Why $12,000? Why $12? As the old saying goes, “We’ve established what you are. Now we’re just haggling over price.”

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            DetMunchOneLinerHamilton Nolan
            3/14/16 5:05pm

            The less they make, the more dependent they have to become on his bribes. Big win for him!

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              SpringSprungHamilton Nolan
              3/14/16 3:59pm

              That’s what they call low balling. So he’s still as corrupt and cynical.

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