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Bruno trial could provide insight

Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 8:20 pm | (2) Comments

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Mike Groll In this file photo taken June 19, 2008, former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno stands on the steps at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Now 80, but still with the impeccable suits, thick silver hair perfectly groomed, and a body still toned by pounding the punching bag, Bruno is taking the fight on. He stands accused of collecting $3.2 million in commissions and gifts over 13 years in return for using his state influence to benefit a dozen labor unions and three private businessmen. He pleaded not guilty then denounced the eight-count January indictment as a politically motivated fishing expedition that smelled bad. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

If you want a glimpse into how state government really works behind the scenes, pay close attention to this case.

Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is on trial in Albany on eight counts of wire and mail fraud alleging he used his vast influence as the head of the Senate to generate $3.2 million from unions doing business with the state.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is painting an image of Bruno as the Godfather, accepting visitors on the day of his daughter's wedding to seek favors in exchange for a favor later on.

"They came to see Senator Bruno because he had the power to make things happen in New York state," the federal prosecutor argued in her opening arguments.

The feds say that over a period of 13 years, Bruno successfully solicited more than $3.2 million in commissions from 11 unions that were persuaded to invest in two "empty shell" companies he owned. The commissions, prosecutors say, were inordinately large compared to the amount of work required and should have been disclosed as gifts to the senator.

The U.S. Attorney's office said it would provide examples of various political favors Bruno paid labor unions and others in return for their business, including his help securing an unspecified legislative win for the New York City Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, according to The New York Post.

Lawyers for the 80-year-old Glens Falls native, of course, claim he followed all the Senate's disclosure rules. They say there is no way for a businessman working in state government to avoid all conflicts, and that Bruno was in no way influenced by the $3.2 million that found its way into his pockets over the years.

The point here is that regardless of whether he broke any laws, there's going to be enough questionable behavior on display to make citizens wonder what else goes on down there behind closed doors.

While they're trying to unravel this one senator's business dealings, federal prosecutors will reveal

how top lawmakers are routinely bought and sold by private contributors, and how the system not only condones it, but practically invites it.

There are more subtle ways, of course, for lawmakers to be influenced than by setting up corporations and convincing the people who come before you to invest in them. But most of those sources of influence, notably campaign contributions, at least have to be disclosed to the public in regular reports filed with the state.

It's really the off-the-book stuff - the shady business dealings that technically fall within the rules, the business lunches and cocktail parties and golf tournaments - where big contributors have direct access to lawmakers and can quietly influence them.

And since those kinds of dealings are hardly ever reported, this trial will provide citizens with an unexpected look into the real world of government influence-peddling.

The Post-Star is running the Associated Press stories from the trial every day. Take some time to read them. You might learn something.

But you probably won't be happy about it.

Local editorials represent the opinion of The Post-Star editorial board, which consists of Publisher Rick Emanuel, Editor Ken Tingley, Editorial Page Editor Mark Mahoney and citizen representative Robert Sellar.

Posted in Editorial on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 8:20 pm | Tags: Editorial, Bruno, Corruption, Trial, Albany

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