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Cuomo stumps for public trust act

Ashley Hassett
/
WBFO News

As a recent poll shows his job approval rating dropping, Governor Andrew Cuomo hit the road Wednesday to campaign for his Public Trust and Campaign Finance Reform Bill. The governor admitted aspects of his plan are unlikely to pass this session.

The governor made an appearance in Buffalo to push for changes he says increase penalties for corruption and requires more disclosure of campaign contributions. The bill also sets the stage for the public financing of campaigns beginning in 2015.

On that last part, Cuomo admitted in Syracuse that legislative leaders don't want to pass public financing this year.

Cuomo said it was the inclusion of the public campaign financing option that delayed the release of his bill until the final weeks of the session.

"But we had been working with a lot of the group before to see if we could come up with a consensus package that everybody agreed to. We were unable to do that, so I put forth my own proposal," said Cuomo.

If the lawmakers don't act in the next week, the governor has threatened to use a decades-old law that empowers him to form a special committee to investigate corruption in the Legislature.

The governor says he elected to travel instead of negotiating in Albany because he likes to take his business to the people, who he hopes will lobby their representatives.

"I don't do my business in Albany. I do my business in Syracuse, and in Buffalo, and in Utica and on Long Island; talking to the people of the state. And then the people of the state actually lobby their elected officials to get things done," said Cuomo.