<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To All Local League Presidents and Action Chairs:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the conviction of Senator Bruno, former majority leader
of the State Senate, attention has been focused on the lack of effective ethics
laws and enforcement in Albany. Despite continued pressure from the League and
other good government groups, 2009 is apparently ending with a failure to
reform these laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There is
momentum to pass new ethics laws early in next year’s session.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Don’t let the new year start without pushing for an
immediate push for a comprehensive new ethics law!<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Call immediately and
set up an appointment to see your state representatives for as early as
possible in January.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Information on how to set up an appointment and how to lobby is
attached.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the end of December, you will have received in the mail:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Copies of the 2010 Legislative Agenda
brochure-estimate how many you will need and let the League office know by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">December 16.</b><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>As in prior years, you will only pay the shipping
cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Quantities may be limited if
we do not get your order by then.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Five “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">FIX
<span style="color:#365F91">ALBANY</span> NOW</b>!” buttons-you can order more
for $1 each. </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Part I of the Legislative Packet focusing on
immediate ethics and campaign finance enforcement reform.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Part II will be sent out following the League’s forum on
Redistricting Reform on February 9th, and will focus on that issue and
remaining items on the 2010 Legislative Agenda.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto">In
the meantime, below is a description of what we are asking for in any comprehensive ethics
bill:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Verdana">An appointment process that fosters independent oversight.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Verdana">Safeguards barring lobbyists, former officials and other interested
parties from serving on ethics oversight bodies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Verdana">Reasonable, reliable, informative, and transparent financial
disclosures of all business relationships.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Verdana">Significant investigatory and enforcement powers, including<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>strong independent campaign
finance enforcement, and reasonable audit procedures.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Verdana">New Yorkers deserve a new ethics law that includes independent
oversight, effective administration, strong campaign finance enforcement, and
transparent auditing.</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Times New Roman'">
</font></p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Times New Roman'"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Sally
Robinson, 2<sup>nd</sup> Vice-President, Issues & Advocacy</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Telephone:
212-879-4575</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">E-mail:
</span><span style="color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><a href="mailto:robintwins@gmail.com">robintwins@gmail.com</a> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span></span></i></p>
</font><p></p>