The fair-weather reformer

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If at first you don't succeed ...

• 1906

  New York enacts legislation requiring lobbyists to register for the first time.
• 1977

  The Temporary State Commission on Lobbying is created to collect lobbying filings and issue advisory opinions.
• 1987

  The Ethics in Government Act creates the New York State Ethics Commission, which oversees state officers and executive branch employees.

  
• 1999

  The state Legislature strengthens the law regulating lobbying after a $75,000 fine is imposed on Philip Morris for underreporting lobbying spending, a record at the time. The law requires lobbyist filings every two month, institutes an auditing system and extends to counties and cities with a population of at least 50,000.

  
• 2003

  Gov. George Pataki issues an executive order requiring all state agencies and authorities to publicly disclose information on procurement lobbying.
• 2007

  Gov. Eliot Spitzer signs the Public Employee Ethics Reform Act, creating the Commission on Public Integrity, which replaces the state lobbying and ethics commissions. The law increases penalties, sets a stricter gift ban, prohibits agency heads from seeking public office and tightens other restrictions.

  
• 2011

  Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs the Public Integrity Reform Act, creating the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which succeeds the Commission on Public Integrity. The law also increases required financial disclosure, raises penalties and requires the forfeiture of pensions for officials convicted of a felony who were elected after the legislation was signed.

  
• 2013

  Cuomo creates the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption.
• 2014

  Cuomo shutters the Moreland Commission in return for legislation creating an enforcement unit at the

  

  state Board of Elections. It also makes it a crime to bribe a public servant, increases penalties and disclosure and institutes a pilot matching fund program for the 2014 state comptroller race.
• 2015

  Cuomo announces ethics measures passed in the state budget, including new disclosure requirements, stricter limits on personal use of campaign funds, per diem reform and extension of the lobby law to municipalities with a population of at least 5,000.