Lupinacci Reflects on Sunshine Week

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I – South Huntington) along with thousands of new media, civic groups, libraries , nonprofits, and schools is recognizing March 15, through March 21 as Sunshine Week, which promotes more transparent governments and freedom of information. The initiative was created by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Bloomberg L.P., and The Gridiron Club and Foundation

“My fellow colleagues in the Assembly Minority and I will proudly recognize sunshine week, as we have recently looked to pass ethics and rules reform that would make our government more open and transparent. A top priority as a legislature needs to be ethics reform, and it all starts with passing bills like The Public Officers Accountability Act, and the 17 rules reform proposals introduced by the Assembly Minority,” said Lupinacci.

Assemblyman Lupinacci supported the Public Officers Accountability Act, which issues term limits for legislative leadership positions, including committee chairmanships, and creates new crimes and increases penalties for those who act against the public trust or fail to report corruption. He also voted to pass the 17 rules reform proposals, designed to hold lawmakers more accountable for their actions and bring more openness and transparency. He even supports legislation that would require committee meetings to be televised, similar to other public agency meetings.

“Unfortunately, the Assembly Majority has cast a dark cloud over Sunshine Week at the capitol as they have voted against any rules reform proposals, and even rejected the governor’s ethics reform proposals in the budget. At a time when our state can create real change, and pass some of the toughest ethics reform in the nation, the Majority once again has failed us,” concluded Lupinacci.

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