Kaminsky pledges to ban outside income

Says he will put forward bill on first day in Senate

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Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky held the first press conference of his campaign in Rockville Centre on Feb. 11, promising that he would put forward legislation to ban outside income for Albany representatives.

Kaminksy, standing on Front Street in Rockville Centre in front of the former office of Dean Skelos, said that allowing outside income led to a conflict of interest for legislators, who then have to decide between serving their constituents and those who sign their paychecks.

“As a former corruption prosecutor, I worked day and night to convict crooked politicians who used the obsolete outside income rules to ‘serve two masters’ — the people of the State of New York and their private business interests,” Kaminsky, a Long Beach Democrat, said. “Now, once and for all, it’s time for Albany to put the public’s interest first, and that starts with banning outside income. I promise Long Islanders that on my first day in the Senate, I will introduce legislation to do so and give my full support to existing legislation to swiftly enact these urgent reforms.”

The press conference was the first one held to discuss issues by either candidate running to fill the vacancy created when Skelos and his son, Adam, were found guilty in December of federal corruption charges. Because he was found guilty of a felony, Skelos automatically lost his seat in the Senate.

Kaminsky is being challenged by Republican Chris McGrath, an attorney from Hewlett.

"I am against a professional legislature full of career politicians,” McGrath said in response to Kaminsky. “To fight corruption in Albany, we need to start with two common-sense measures: enact term limits and strip corrupt politicians of taxpayer funded pensions.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo set a special election to fill the vacant seat for April 19.