A recent investigation by DCBureau.org into a New York State lawmaker’s apparent conflict of interest is renewing calls for tougher standards of disclosure for officeholders. The situation stems from State Sen. George Winner’s endorsement of industry-drafted revisions to gas drilling laws at the same time his law firm represented the state’s largest natural gas producer.
Winner acknowledges his firm has done real estate deals with a gas producer, but denies a conflict of interest.
Lawmakers who are also attorneys are not required to disclose their client list to the Ethics Commission. Former law partner to Winner, Christopher Denton, said, “Now if you’re a legislator and there is a lot of legislation being proposed to you and you represent companies that are proposing that legislation, that ought to be fully disclosed.”
READ THIS STORY AT NEWSSERVICE.ORG
A recent investigation by DCBureau.org into a New York State lawmaker’s apparent conflict of interest is renewing calls for tougher standards of disclosure for officeholders. The situation stems from State Sen. George Winner’s endorsement of industry-drafted revisions to gas drilling laws at the same time his law firm represented the state’s largest natural gas producer.
Winner acknowledges his firm has done real estate deals with a gas producer, but denies a conflict of interest.
Lawmakers who are also attorneys are not required to disclose their client list to the Ethics Commission. Former law partner to Winner, Christopher Denton, said, “Now if you’re a legislator and there is a lot of legislation being proposed to you and you represent companies that are proposing that legislation, that ought to be fully disclosed.”
READ THIS STORY AT NEWSSERVICE.ORG
