The disclosure guidelines for the Joint Commission on Public Ethics released this morning endorse a relatively narrow look-back period for those funding lobbying entities across the state.

The JCOPE guidelines would take effect July 1 of this year for single source contributors, a month after parts of the 2011 ethics overhaul bill took effect.

Reporting of contributions above $5,000 would be required every six months.

But when the disclosure period takes effect is important, because the state has already experienced a boom in lobbying efforts over the last two legislative sessions, with the bulk of the money being spent by the Committee to Save New York, a business and private-sector union coalition aligned with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s fiscal agenda.

The committee has raised $17.5 million in contributions from 74 donors whose identities have not been publicly disclosed. The group has said it would comply with all state laws, but has no plan for retroactive disclosure. CSNY is listed as a 501(c)4, a specialized tax status that allows it to keep its donor list private.

Cuomo has defended the committee not releasing the names of the donors, noting that the law he championed since his 2010 campaign would bring sunlight to the donations.

Still, the rules approved by JCOPE will not explicitly require CSNY to release the names of the contributors who already donated to the committee and funded one of more expensive and sophisticated campaigns for a governor’s agenda in the state’s history. Some donors to the committee have been revealed through press reports, including $2 million from gambling interests as well money from Consolidated Edison.

The disclosure period has split the good-government groups in New York as well, with the majority, save for Common Cause, advocating for a narrow look-back period (reform groups would also be compelled to release their donors as well under the guidelines). Common Cause releases its donors online.

 

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