Protocol For Paterson, Father Sent To Ethics Board
Just following up from Friday’s story about Gov. Paterson and his father, Basil, coming up with protocol to avoid conflict of interests in their jobs. Basil Paterson is an attorney for the Long Island-based Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein, which does a lot of state lobbying.
“The Governor’s Counsel’s Office has worked with Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein to develop protocols that the firm has implemented to avoid any potential conflict of interest between the Governor and his father,” Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield said.
“These guidelines have been put in place to ensure public trust. In addition, the firm has asked the Public Integrity Commission to review these protocols.”
Here’s some of the proposed protocols:
—Basil Paterson is not and will not become a registered lobbyist.
—Basil Paterson does, and will do, no lobbying work in Albany, or elsewhere.
—Basil Paterson does not and will not arrange meetings for clients with the Governor, the Governor’s staff, or others in the administration.
—Basil Paterson never discusses, and will not discuss, with the Governor, or with anyone in the administration, matters relating to his clients or clients of MSEK.
—Basil Paterson will not represent clients in matters before or interests adverse to the State of New York, its agencies, or any other public body over which the Governor has appointment authority.
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Basil Paterson is a main lobbyist for the teachers unions. And we know how much juice the teachers have in Albany, to the detriment of the taxpayers. Those protocols sound good, but let’s see how they are enforced.
Fred Dicker in today’s NY Post has another big story about Troopergate. The State cops are in the frying pan, and this investigation could get bigger. Dicker reports that both Spitzer and Pataki might be subpoenaed to a grand jury convened by Andrew Cuomo. A main figure looks to be Daniel Weise, a tainted former honcho in the state cops who is close to both Pataki and Spitzer.
Interesting that the Patersons tell the Public Integrity Commission the definition of ‘ethics.” Isn’t that THEIR job? The father is 81 years old and he’s telling the world how much this decision is going to cost him. Guess he wants to take it all with him so he can lobby St. Peter with cash as his first official other-worldly shmeer.
Why wasn’t these potenial ethic rules applied when he was Lt. Governor? It would appear that Paterson may have helped Dad out as Lt. Governor, but now that he is Governor he must change the rules. Interesting, as Lt. Governor Dad did not have to follow any rules, what has changed? This is scary, old time NYC politics
Good question, Mike. You probably answered it, too.