New York Legislative Leaders Get Big Bump In Contributions

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Records show big jumps in campaign contributions to the New York state legislators who took over the top leadership posts this year.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's finance report shows nearly $352,000 in receipts in the past six months, about five times more than the $72,000 raised in the same period in 2014, an election year.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan reports almost $277,000 in receipts, about 2.5 times more than the $115,000 raised a year earlier.

Heastie was chosen speaker by the Assembly's Democratic majority in early February to replace Assemblyman Sheldon Silver, now facing federal corruption charges.

Flanagan was chosen majority leader by the Senate Republicans in early May to replace Sen. Dean Skelos, who also faces federal corruption charges.

Silver and Skelos say they'll be vindicated.