Cass v. State --Court of Appeals, 1983
Cass v. State -- Appellate Division, 3rd Dept  1982
Cass v. State -- S.Ct  1981

Soares v. Herrick -- Ct of Appeals 2012

District Attorneys Association of New York (DAANY) website

The Right Thing: Ethical Guidelines for Prosecutors-- 2016

Median Household Income, by County, 2009/2013

New York State Law Revision Commission

Legislative Law, Article 4-A.    Law Revision Commission

§70. Commission created; terms and qualifications of members.

A law revision commission is hereby created, to consist of the chairman of the committees on the judiciary and codes of the senate and assembly, ex-officio, and five additional members, to be appointed by the governor.  The members first appointed by the governor shall be appointed for such terms that the term of one member will expire on each succeeding thirty-first day of December. The term of a member thereafter appointed, except to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term, shall be five years from the expiration of the term of his predecessor. A vacancy in the office of a member appointed by the governor occurring otherwise than by expiration of term, shall be filled by the governor for the remainder only of the term. Upon making the original appointments, the governor shall designate one of the appointed members as chairman of the commission.  Upon  the  appointment  of  a successor  to  the  chairman  of  the  commission,  the governor shall designate such successor or other member of the commission as chairman. Four members appointed by the governor shall be attorneys and counselors at law, admitted to practice in the courts of this state, and at least two of them shall be members of law faculties of universities or law schools within the state recognized by the board of regents of the state of New York. 

§71.  Expenses; employees. 

Each of the members of the commission appointed by the governor shall receive necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duty.  The commission may appoint such employees as may be needed, prescribe their duties, and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated for the commission.

§72. Purposes of commission.

It shall be the duty of the law revision commission:

              1.  To examine the common law and statutes of the state and current judicial  decisions for the purpose of discovering defects and anachronisms in the law and recommending needed reforms.

              2.  To receive and consider proposed changes in the law recommended by the American law institute, the commissioners for the promotion of uniformity of legislation in the United States, any bar association or other learned bodies.

              3. To receive and consider suggestions from judges,  justices,  public officials, lawyers and the public generally as to defects  and anachronisms in the law.

              4. To recommend, from time to time, such changes in the law as it deems necessary to modify or eliminate antiquated and inequitable rules of law, and to bring the law of this state, civil and criminal, into harmony with modern conditions.

              5.  To report its proceedings annually to the legislature on or before February first, and, if it deems advisable, to accompany its report with proposed bills to carry out any of its recommendations.

Law Revision Commission of the State of New York.  Its Organization, Procedure Program and Accomplishment, John MacDonald, Simon Rosenzweig, Cornell Law Review, 1935

official documents of NYS

http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/stlulj13&id=276

latimer -- chair, Commission on Government Administration

Legislative Law §82. Legislative commissions.
Expenditures made from appropriations  and  reappropriations  to  the  legislature for services and expenses of shared legislative commissions, task forces and councils, including, but not limited to those set forth in this article  and  article  five-B  of  this chapter, shall be paid upon the approval of the temporary president of  the  senate  and  the  speaker  of  the  assembly,  unless otherwise specified by law. Such expenditures shall be payable after audit by  and on  the  warrant  of  the  comptroller  upon  vouchers certified by the   temporary president of the senate or his or her designee and the speaker of the assembly or his or her designee.
    * NB Repealed June 30, 2017

 Legislative Law §83-c. Legislative  commission on public management systems. 

               1. The legislative commission created and known as the legislative  commission on  economy  and  efficiency  in government named and 
continued as the legislative commission on public management systems shall also be known as the legislative commission on government  
administration.  Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, any reference in any other provision of law to the legislative commission on 
economy and efficiency in government shall be construed as if the legislative commission on public management systems had been set forth 
in any such provision of law. The commission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as follows: three members of the senate shall be 
appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three  members  of  the assembly shall be appointed  by the speaker of the assembly; 
two members of the senate shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members of the assembly shall be appointed by 
the minority leader of the assembly.  From among the members so appointed, a chairman and a vice chairman shall be designated  by  the 
joint  action  of  the  temporary president  of  the senate and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy that  occurs  in  the commission  or 
in  the  chairmanship  or  vice chairmanship  shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment or designation was made. 
No member, officer, or employee  of the  commission shall be disqualified from holding any other public office or employment, nor shall he 
forfeit any such office or employment  by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special, or local law, 
ordinance, or city charter.
              2.  The  commission shall examine specific methods for increasing economy, efficiency, effectiveness  and accountability in state
government.    Organization, management, administration, operations, technologies, procedures, and practices in the  public  sector  will  be
considered by the commission for the purpose  of  examining  the feasibility of and making legislative recommendations for: (a) improving 
administration and operations in state government; (b) increasing efficiency, economy and effectiveness by measures  of consolidation and 
reorganization; and (c) improving the delivery of services and enhancing accountability by organizational changes.
             3.  The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's 
functions and  fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise  
have  all of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members of  the  commission  shall  receive  no compensation for their 
services, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter, but shall be allowed  their  actual  and  necessary  expenses  incurred  in   the
performance of their duties hereunder.
            4.  Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of the legislature for all purposes.
            5. The commission may  request  and  shall  receive  from  any  court, department,  division,  board,  or  bureau, commission, or agency of the
state, recommendations as to the administration,  operating  guidelines,  procedures,  workload  output,  and  incentive and disincentive workload
measurements which, if monitored,  would  provide  accurate  indications quantitatively  and qualitatively of the performance and cost efficiency
of its activities and/or programs, and such assistance and data as  will enable  the  commission  properly  to  carry  out  its powers and duties
hereunder.
            6. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and  sign any  agreements,  and  to do and perform any acts that may be 
necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this section.
    * NB Repealed June 30, 2017

State-Local Relations
Assembly chair:  Sean Ryan

 Legislative Law §83-h. Legislative commission on state-local relations. 
    	1. (a) The legislature hereby finds that a strong relationship  between the state and its counties, cities, towns, villages,
school districts and other units of government is central to the effective provision of government services for the benefit of the 
people of the state. This relationship encompasses state mandates on local governments to provide certain services and 
perform certain activities; state limits on the ability of local governments to provide services, raise revenue and incur debt; 
and state programs of assistance to relieve local governments of a portion of  the responsibility  for raising revenues to meet 
the costs of local services.  Categorical  programs of state assistance help local governments finance specific services of 
importance to the people of the state, while programs of state  general purpose aid provide local governments with general 
assistance in meeting the  costs  of  services, including state mandated activities.
    	(b)  The  legislature  further  finds  that  proposals  to amend state categorical or general purpose assistance programs, 
to  shift  costs  or responsibilities between the state and local governments, or to alter or impose local taxing, borrowing or 
spending limits should be evaluated in the  context of all the various elements of state-local relations. The variation among 
local governments,  including  fiscal  condition, local economy and demand for services, should be considered, and opportunities
for intergovernmental cooperation and efficiencies should be identified.
    	2.  A  legislative  commission  on  state-local  relations  is  hereby established to examine, evaluate and make 
recommendations concerning the state's system of aid to localities, the division of state and local responsibilities, state 
mandates on local governments and limits on the ability of local governments to raise revenue, incur debt and  manage 
resources. The commission shall make such recommendations as it may deem necessary  to  provide  an  equitable  system 
of state aid to local governments, to encourage the most effective use of state and local resources, to  preserve  the  fiscal  
integrity of both state and local governments and otherwise to strengthen the  partnership between the state and its local 
governments.
    	3.  The  commission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as follows: three members of the senate 
shall be appointed by the temporary president of  the  senate;  three  members  of  the  assembly  shall  be appointed  
by  the  speaker of the assembly; two members of the senate shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 
and two members of the assembly shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.  From among the members 
so appointed, a chairman and a vice chairman shall be designated  by  the  joint  action of  the  temporary president  of  the
senate  and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy that occurs in the commission or in the chairmanship or vice
chairmanship shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment or designation was made. No member, 
officer, or employee of the commission shall be disqualified from holding any other public office or employment, nor shall 
he forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions of any general, 
special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.
	4.  The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the 
performance of the commission's functions and fix their compensation within the amounts made available therefor.
    	5.  Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of the legislature for all purposes.
    	6. The commission in addition to the above mentioned powers shall have  all the powers and privileges of a legislative  
committee pursuant  to this chapter.
    	7.  For the accomplishment of its purpose, the commission shall be authorized and empowered to undertake any study,  
inquiry, survey, or analysis it may deem relevant through its own personnel in cooperation with or by agreement with 
any other public or private agency.
    	8.  The commission may require and shall receive from any department, board, bureau, commission, authority, 
office, or other  instrumentality of  the state, and from any county, city, town or village of this state, such facilities, assistance, 
and  data, as it deems necessary or desirable for proper execution of its powers and duties.
    	9.  The  commission may hold public or private hearings and shall have full powers to subpoena witnesses and all 
records or data it shall deem necessary or desirable pursuant to this chapter.
    	10.  The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be allowed their actual 
and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
    * NB Repealed June 30, 2017

Cass v. State -- Supreme Court
Cass v. State -- Appellate Division
Cass v. State -- Court of Appeals

League of Women Voters -- Westchester

And the End of Session "BIG UGLY"

June 17, 2016  Albany Times Union

"Cuomo, Leaders announce 5-point ethics agreement", June 17, 2016, Albany Times Union

"Race to Exit", June 18, 2016, Albany Times Union (Matthew Hamilton, Casey Seiler)

"In Albany, It's called the big ugly for a reason", June 30, 2015, Assemblyman Lalor

"It's big and ugly and resists change", June 30, 2015, Times Herald Record (editorial)

"Albany's 'Big Ugly'", Brian Lehrer

"End of Session Menu Previews Next Big Ugly in Albany", June 1, 2016, Gotham Gazette

"In praise of Albany's Big Ugly", May 31, 2016, Albany Times Union (Brodsky)

"The 'Big Ugly': Reliving bad memories of Albany's last all-nighter", June 15, 2012 Syracuse.com (editorial)

Daily News:  Novello

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2015/s1909/amendment/a
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2015/s1909/amendment/a

https://www.nysenate.gov/calendar/meetings/investigations-and-government-operations/march-08-2016/investigations-and
https://www.nysenate.gov/calendar/meetings/investigations-and-government-operations/march-08-2016/investigations-and

Of interest:
 -- video of Hawley: "NYS EXPOSED: Should state legislators be allowed to make money from side jobs?"; also Ranzenhofer & Nozzolio  (News 10-WHEC Rochester);   March 24, 2016: "NYS EXPOSED: Big raises for state legislators?"

October 13, 2015 letter to Gov Cuomo from DA Mollen -- on behalf of District Attorney Association of NY

PRESS

http://wamc.org/post/state-senate-candidate-christian-klueg-calls-nomination-process-corrupt#stream/0

Coll v. Commission

mcandrew

December 10, 2015: "Heastie: Full time legislature would need hefty pay raise", New York Post (Carl Campanile)

March 2, 2016: "Lawmaker seeks more detail on discretionary funds", Capital New York (Jimmy Vielkind)

Citizens Union Report: "Spending in the Shadows"

March 3, 2016: "Several Significant Questions About the Governor's Budget", Gotham Gazette (David Howard King)

March 1, 2016:  "The Heastie era: one year in: changeover without revolution", Capital New York (Josefa Velasquez, Bill Mahoney)

March 3, 2016: "Eight terms in, still pushing for change", Queens Chronicle (Ryan Brady)

March 5, 2016: "Lonely Crusade"

March 8, 2016: "Advocates: Cuomo not doing enough on ethics", Albany Times Union (Casey Seiler)

March 10, 2016:  "Advocates Call for Action on ethics reform", Public News Service, Andrea Sears

March 11, 2016: "Speaker Heastie Announces Ethics Reform Package Aimed at Restoring Public Trust"

March 11, 2016: "Heastie outlines Assembly ethics plan", Gotham Gazette (David King)

March 11, 2016: "Reminder: you own the government, not the politicians" editorial-Gannett/USA Today

March 12, 2016: "Corruption gets a shrug as NY nears budget deal", Washington Times (AP)

2007 "Silver, Spitzer, Bruno Agree to Significant Budget Reform Measures"

"

Robert Mujica named to head division of budget, Washington Times

"Young named chair of State Finance Committee", Buffalo News (Tom Precious)

"Budget watchdog critiques Cuomo's budget"

"Who needs a New York State Legislature?"

March 28, 2016 "New York doesn't need another secret budget", New York Post, editorial

March 28, 2016 "Nonprofit sues Cuomo, NY Legislature over '3 men in a room' budget making", Syracuse.com (Mike McAndrew)

March 28, 2016 "Government watchdogs: budget process uniquely troubling" (WNYT.com)

March 29, 2016 "Government that can't be reviewed should not be approved" (Poststar.com), editorial

March 29, 2016: "DiBlasio concerned with Lack of Clarity as State Budget Deadline Nears", Gotham Gazette (David Howard King)

March 29, 2016 "New York is not a democracy" (Poststar.com), editorial

March 30, 2016  "NYS budget deadline fast approaching", WNYT.com  (Anna Meiler)

March 30, 2016 "Alleghany County OKs district attorney salary hike", Wellsville Daily Reporter (Brian Quinn)

March 30, 2016 "Don't Let Albany Ethics Reform Slip Away", NYT (editorial)

March 30, 2016 "Not another rush job", Albany Times Union (editorial)

March 30, 2016 "Gov may hit state lawmakers in wallets for failure to adopt on-time budget, pass ethics reforms", Daily News (Ken Lovett, Glenn Blain )

March 30, 2016: "Criminal Justice Reform Again Given Little Attention in Budget Negotiations", Gotham Gazette (David Howard King)

March 31, 2016: "For State Budget, Leaders Choose On-Time over Open", Gotham Gazette (David Howard King)

March 30, 2016: "Late Budget Could Hurt Case for Legislative Pay Raise", State of Politics (Nick Reisman)

March 30, 2016:  "Pushing for a Budget: Andrew Cuomo Suggests Link to Legislators' Pay", Wall Street Journal (Mike Vilensky, Erica Orden)

March 31: 2016: "Deadline Tonight: Still No Budget Deal Reached for NY",  TWC News (Barry Wygel)

March 31, 2016: "Passing budget without proper review 'a travesty'", Capitol Confidential (Casey Seiler)

March 31, 2016: "Legislators denouce school aid

March 31, 2016: "Lawmakers begin passing NYS budget bills, but some details are murky", North Country Public Radio (Karen DeWitt)

Productive Progressive Change You Can Make", Skidmore News (Elena Veatch)

A.4390   Legislative Law 51

Weinstein's Newsletter winter 2015

March 1, 2016: Judiciary Committee meeting

Senate Rules

Assembly Rules

Gerald Benjamin, Reform in New York: The Budget, The Legislature, and the Governance Process, 67 Alb L Rev 1021 (2004).

Pataki v Assembly 4 NY3d at 80

Legal History of the New York State Budget"  (2011)  David Liebschutz and Michael Pawluk

Breaking the Budget in NY State McMahon

Understanding and Evaluating New York State Legislature's proposed Budget Process constitutional amendments  Mauro

"Merit Pay and Pain: Linking Congressional Pay to Performance",  Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 86: Iss. 1, Article 7 (Jonathan D. McPike)

Press

"Why hold school budget votes if voters don't care enough to participate?", Syracuse.com editorial, May 26, 2016

July 28, 2016: "Cuomo dips into campaign for legal bills", Gannett (Spector)

The Trail of EVIDENCE
on which the March 28, 2014 citizen-taxpayer action sits

The Trail of EVIDENCE
on which the March 30, 2015 supplemental complaint sits

*   *   *

POOF! 
Repeal of Chapter 567 of the Laws of 2010
that had Created  the Commission on Judicial Compensation
& in its place -- the Commission on Legislative, Judicial, & Executive Compensation

click here for:  

MENU OF CJA's JUDICIAL COMPENSATION WEBPAGES

----

Looking Ahead to 2016:

Feb. 8, 2016:  Silver ally facing challenge Arthur Schwartz v. Glick , Daily News (Carl Campanile)

"Even on his way to prison, Sheldon Silver is still a political power"

NYS Law Revision Commission

Feb. 12: "Ironic Gaffe At State Of District Address", Sarah Crean

Feb. 8, 2015 "Critical Of Corruption, Bharara Addresses WAMC Audience In Rare Albany Stop"