NY Senate Passes Election Campaign Contribution Reforms

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The Democrat-controlled state Senate has approved legislation aimed at the "pay-to-play" system linked to recent major corruption scandals in New York politics.

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill banning campaign contributions from companies seeking state contracts to elected officials with authority over state entities involved in the bidding process.

Sponsored by Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat, the measure would also bar prospective vendors from contributing for six months after the contract is granted by the state.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and fellow Democrats who control the Assembly have their own ethics reform measures. Cuomo's include limiting how much limited liability companies can give to election campaigns. He also wants to ban campaign contributions from corporations.

Several former state officials have been convicted in pay-to-play scandals in recent years.