Proposed changes to ethics rules unveiled yesterday would make it easier for lobbyists to conceal their donors and clients and funders from public view and broaden a ban on gifts to politicians in Albany, where a spate of corruption cases have ensnared state lawmakers. Currently, lobbyists may keep their donors and potentially other financial data secret if there is a "substantial likelihood" of harm, particularly harm to donors or others should they be identified. The definition of harm, however, isn’t clear.
But the proposal by Joint Commission on Public Ethics staff would lower that standard to a "reasonable" likelihood or probability of harm in identifying donors. Executive Director Ellen Biben said the current, more stringent threshold might not comply with the state Constitution and could therefore be susceptible to a legal challenge.
