Ethics reform bill passes in Albany; Paterson vows to veto

ALBANY — State lawmakers passed an ethics reform bill Wednesday that Gov. David Paterson vowed to veto, saying he wants to work with them on a bill “that I will sign.”

Senate Democrats said they would seek an override of a veto.

“The Senate is prepared to override the governor’s veto and deliver the ethics reform we need to give New York the government it deserves,” said Austin Shafran, spokesman for the Senate Majority Conference.

Paterson is reiterating what aides said last week: that he would not support the ethics reform bill backed by the Legislature. The Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly passed the bill Wednesday....

...Still, lawmakers said the proposal — which passed with bipartisan support after Senate Republicans offered several amendments that were rejected by Democrats — is a positive step toward ending the scandals that have rocked the Capitol in recent years.

“I have pushed for increased disclosure, enforcement and independence in Albany since I took office, and by passing this ethics package today, the Senate has taken a significant step toward that goal,” Sen. Daniel Squadron, D-Brooklyn, said in a statement....

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