Paterson Rejects Ethics Reform Attempt
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Governor David Paterson is ripping the state legislature's proposed ethics bill saying it's "rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic."
Paterson made the comment in an interview with the Associated Press.
The current bill would bring back separate boards to investigate government officials' ethics and regulate lobbying.
A Senate Democratic amendment also would create a stronger entity to investigate allegations of election and campaign law violations.
The bill would abolish the Public Integrity Commission, created under Governor Eliot Spitzer, which investigated ethics in the executive branch.
Paterson tells the AP the bill would just bring back a system that didn't work years ago. He says he doesn't want politicians making direct appointments to the panels and he's calling for a commission that would include former judges to make final decisions.
Senate and Assembly leaders say they're open to further discussion about the bill.