Opinion: The Death of Ordinary Politics

The intersection of public policy, moneyed interests and politicians in Albany has been embarrassing for all New Yorkers, but it is particularly so for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers. In the span of 100 days, two powerful statehouse leaders have been arrested and charged with corruption. 

Yet some lawmakers have been bellyaching about how the recent arrests have “chilled” the legislative process. A couple of Republican state senators have even voiced trepidation about end-of-session deal making for fear of sparking new investigations.

Members of the permanent government and political classes are accusing our crusading U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of criminalizing “ordinary” politics.

Compromise is politics. Self-dealing is criminal.

Using public office to line one’s own pockets or that of family and cronies was once called “graft.” Yet today’s insiders would have us believe it amounts to run-of-the-mill, ordinary politics. Or that negotiating away a potentially fruitful corruption inquiry in order to achieve modest anti-graft reforms and an on-time budget is ordinary politics that the public should embrace.

Voters aren't angry over loopholes, tax breaks or outside pay. They're angry at outright thievery, self-dealing and cronyism.

Tammany Hall powerhouse George Washington Plunkitt famously dubbed his self-dealing “honest graft.” But there’s nothing honest about it. It’s not like being a “little bit pregnant.” Either you are or you aren’t.

Plunkitt proudly summed up his philosophy as “I seen (sic) my opportunities and I took ‘em.”

Today, Plunkitt’s words echo the shocking malfeasance, greed and ethical misconduct that have led thirty three past and present state lawmakers to be indicted, imprisoned or kicked out of office since 2000. They had "seen [their] opportunities and took ‘em," thinking no one was minding the store.

When you read the numerous corruption complaints against these lawmakers, you get an unflattering portrait of life on Planet Albany. 

Convicted ex-lawmakers Shirley Huntley and Eric Stevenson were caught on tape asserting that “everyone is dirty in Albany.”

In a venomous rant, Huntley claimed to have seen “bags full of money” exchanging hands in the Senate. Huntley, whose honesty was called into doubt by federal prosecutors, even claimed to have information about corruption involving state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (who brought corruption charges against her). 

In justifying his greed, imprisoned ex-assemblyman Eric Stevenson claimed, “Everyone is doing it.” Stevenson took $20,000 to sponsor legislation giving his partners a monopoly in adult day care services. He effectively rented out his lawmaking privileges to Russian criminals. 

Bharara has taken aim at Plunkitt-like “honest graft” that allegedly enabled Silver to amass a multimillion dollar fortune from attorney referral fees generated from his association with an asbestos doctor, trial lawyers, real estate developers and tax attorneys. Skelos allegedly used his influence to assist his ne’er-do-well son with firms having business before the state.

When venality and corruption infect our politics, we must take every opportunity to toss the bums out along with their warped sense of right and wrong, because there’s nothing ordinary or acceptable about graft and dishonesty. 

Political horse-trading is one thing, but cutting unrelated side deals to benefit oneself or cronies is unacceptable under any circumstances. We should be able to preserve rent laws and advance education tax credits without picking the public's pocket. And if veteran lawmakers can't abide by the new reality, then they should retire from public office and take their warped sense of entitlement with them.

Former Assemblyman Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem on Twitter) represented the Bronx for eight years.