Silver critic Malliotakis reacts to speaker’s ouster

January 28, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis says replacing Sheldon Silver as assembly speaker is only the first step in reforming the political culture of Albany. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas

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Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis, a longtime critic of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, said the news that Silver is going to be replaced constitutes a victory for those who would like to see changes in the political climate in Albany.

“For those of us who have long opposed Speaker Silver, this is a victory,” Malliotakis told the Brooklyn Eagle on Wednesday.

Malliotakis (R-C-Bay Ridge-Staten Island) has been calling for Silver to step down from his speakership for more than two years. She called Silver “a roadblock” to reform and charged that the speaker singlehandedly blocked important pieces of legislation from coming to the floor for a vote. “If you’re not one of his loyalists, you can’t move forward,” she said.

Silver will relinquish his post as assembly speaker, a job he has held for 21 years, on Feb. 2. Silver was arrested on federal corruption charges last week.

Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle announced on Jan. 27 that Silver would be vacating the post on Monday, the AP reported. It’s not clear if Silver is resigning or if he is being forced out by his Democratic colleagues in the assembly.

Democrats hold the majority of seats in the state assembly.

For now, an interim speaker will be chosen and that person will serve in the post until an election can be held on Feb. 10, the AP reported.

Malliotakis, who began calling for Silver’s ouster two years ago, said she was particularly outraged by reports that came to light about Silver using $103,000 in state funds to settle a sexual harassment claim against former assembly member Vito Lopez, a Democrat from Brooklyn. In 2012, The New York Times reported that records released by the assembly showed that Silver had authorized the secret payment.

“For someone to be using taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim is a disgrace,” Malliotakis said.

But while Malliotakis, a member of the assembly’s Republican minority, said she isn’t sorry to see Silver gone from his leadership post, she doesn’t think the change in leadership is enough.

“Changing the speaker is the first step, but more needs to be done. With a new speaker needs to come new reforms,” she said.

Malliotakis called for several rules changes to be implemented, including term limits for the assembly speaker, committee chairmanships and other leadership posts within the legislative chamber.

“It’s ridiculous for someone to be the assembly speaker for over 20 years” she said. “We need rules changes in the assembly chamber so the speaker does not have so much power. You shouldn’t have a situation where one person is able to block legislation and reform.”

Malliotakis also said she would like to see changes in state laws that would crackdown on the practice of lawmakers funneling state money to favored organizations. Instead, she said, any funds going to organizations should be line-items on the state budget so that the whole process is transparent.

Malliotakis, who was first elected in November of 2010, said that she has watched with dismay over the past four years as a parade of state lawmakers has faced corruption charges.

“During the last four years, 15 of my legislative colleagues have either been indicted, convicted or forced to resign. There is a culture in Albany that perpetuates that behavior,” she said.

Silver’s ouster isn’t enough unless it leads to reforms that “truly change the New York State Legislature for the better,” Malliotakis said.