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Cuomo Takes Hardline Stance: Ethics Overhaul Agreed To Or No New Budget

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- He's drawing a line in the sand.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday he wont sign a new budget unless lawmakers agree to a major ethics overhaul. This as former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is about to be replaced by a lawmaker who is also the Bronx Democratic boss.

Is the circus back in Albany?

The audience at New York Law School probably didn't know it, but Gov. Cuomo drove from Albany in a snowstorm to lay down the law to Albany lawmakers -- ethics reform ... or else, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported.

"A single corruption case is one too many," Cuomo said.

Cuomo said that the extortion and bribery case against Silver makes it imperative for lawmakers to understand the time is now to restore trust in government.

"I've seen acts of corruption after acts of corruption after acts of corruption. I've seen a whole string of politicians, one after the other, saying 'I'm not like the other guy, trust me,' and I had my heart broken again and again and again," the governor said.

Cuomo is demanding change just as Silver is to be replaced with Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie. He was also the Bronx County political boss, but is giving that up because of the current atmosphere. He said he will also forgo outside income.

Assemblyman Carl Heastie
New York State Assemblyman Carl Heastie of the Bronx. (File Photo; Credit: CBS2)

Cuomo said the Legislature has to decide whether to become full-time or put stringent checks and balances on outside income.

"I will not sign a budget that does not have an ethics plan as outlined in my proposal," Cuomo said.

The governor's plan includes:

* Full disclosure of outside income

* Forfeiture of pension if convicted of a crime

* Campaign finance reform

* Outlawing campaign funds for personal expenses

* Reform of per diem expenses

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