Schneiderman: Ban Outside Income For State Lawmakers

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has called for a ban on outside income for state legislators, saying state ethics reforms don't go far enough to prevent corruption.

In a speech at a Citizens Union forum at New York Law School Monday night, Schneiderman said the scandals involving state lawmakers in recent years have prompted "reforms that largely tinker at the margins."

He says he supports Gov. Andrew Cuomo's pursuit of ethics reform as part of budget negotiations. But Schneiderman says it's impossible to avoid the appearance of conflicts if lawmakers continued to be able to earn outside income.

Cuomo has proposed strengthening outside income reporting but no outright ban.

The attorney general also proposes increasing legislators' pay and their term from two years to four, while closing campaign finance loopholes.