Should the legal bills of former Assemblymember Dennis Gabryszak be paid for by taxpayers? Gabryszak resigned his seat Sunday nearly a month after his former staffers accused him of sexual harassment.
It appears Gabryszak is going to be sued by seven of his former staff members. The women's allegations include Gabryszak making sexual comments, attempting to kiss one of the women, and sending sexually suggestive text messages and at least one video.
State Senator Mark Grisanti says defending Gabryszak will cost all New Yorkers.
"There are some laws that need to be changed because I don't think the taxpayers should pick it up," said Grisanti.
Assemblymember Michael Kearns says unfortunately, the law is the law and it can't be changed without changing the Assembly's rules.
"There's only three people that sit in that room," noted Kearns.
Kearns says a bill barring secret settlements was blocked at the end of the last session by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Last year Silver signed off on a $100,000 confidential settlement with the women who accused former Assemblyman Vito Lopez of sexual harassment.