Common Cause/NY Statement on Albany Lawmakers' Ongoing Effort to Stop Outside Income Restrictions

ALBANY, NY (07/10/2025) (readMedia)-- Today, in response to reporting that Albany lawmakers are continuing to fight legislation that would restrict outside income they can earn, Common Cause New York Executive Director Susan Lerner issued the following statement:

"For years, Albany lawmakers faced few limits on income outside their official capacity, which unsurprisingly led to blatant corruption and eroded public trust in government. That's why Common Cause New York fought to pass legislation that raised salaries but also imposed strict limits to ensure lawmakers are serving their constituents, not themselves. As a result of that legislation, lawmakers received a substantial raise - making them the highest earners of any state legislature in the country and removing the need for outside income altogether.

Serving the public is a serious responsibility that comes with clear ethical obligations. Instead of wasting taxpayer money on lawsuits to stop this common-sense legislation, lawmakers should uphold the transparency that voters deserve and focus on the New Yorkers they are so generously paid to represent."