Ethics have been a major issue in state capitols around the country this year. One of the leading ethics crusaders has been New York's Governor, Eliot Spitzer. Yesterday, he began the push for new state ethics laws. Mirroring what's happened here in DC, the reaction to the policy proposals was good, but concerns are being raised about the enforcement provisions:

State leaders launched a long-awaited push to give Albany's fast-and-loose ethics laws some teeth yesterday, but also stirred fears that one of the Capitol's fiercest public watchdogs would be leashed.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer's ethics overhaul, which legislative leaders have endorsed, would shake up the policy-for-profit culture blamed for much of state government's ills in recent years.

It would stop lawmakers from accepting free trips and dinners. It would keep politics out of state job interviews. It would close the loophole that allowed legislative employees to quit and immediately return to the legislative chambers as high-paid lobbyists.

That all sounds good. However, concerns are being raised about the enforcement mechanisms. Unlike DC, there is a process in place that seems to be working:

Meanwhile, one of Spitzer's biggest proposals — merging the state's ethics and lobbying commissions into one independent public integrity office — was quickly blasted by leading reform advocates.

New York Public Interest Research Group Executive Director Blair Horner, for one, said the lobbying commission led by David Grandeau has been one of the most effective enforcers of public accountability. It's unclear whether the new agency would function in the same way and whether Grandeau would have a role in it.

"The part dealing with the ethical standards is a huge leap forward," Horner said. "The enforcement side we're very troubled by. We think the lobbying commission does a good job, and if you're tinkering with them that could be a problem."

The new Governor of New York was sworn in yesterday. He immediately established new ethical rules for state workers:

Yet Mr. Spitzer’s work began hours before the speech: He signed five executive orders before 9 a.m., including directives establishing new ethical guidelines for state workers, among them a ban on accepting almost any gifts, as well as new restrictions on lobbying and the use of state resources. He also barred elected officials or candidates from appearing in advertisements paid for by state entities, a frequent practice of Mr. Pataki.

Spitzer made ethics a top priority for his administration. Hi's actions apply only to state workers -- although he issued a challenge to the other branches of government in his state:

In signing his executive orders, Mr. Spitzer said he was fulfilling a promise “that one of the first acts I would take as governor, officially, was to put in place a series of ethics guidelines and strictures that would begin the process of restoring government to what it should be, which is responsive, open, transparent, available to the public.

“I am hoping that others in other branches will join me in this,” he added.

Mr. Spitzer prohibited nepotism in hiring and contracting, and barred former state workers from lobbying the agency or authority where they worked for two years after their departure. State employment officials were also barred from asking job candidates about their party affiliation.

Mr. Spitzer also prohibited state workers from making contributions to the campaigns of the governor or lieutenant governor, or affiliated political action committees.

Big week for corruption in New York.  The FBI is investigating the President of the State Senate.  Now, The New York Times reports that recently re-elected Comptroller Alan Hevesi is going to resign and plead guilty to crimes stemming from the his use of state workers for personal use:

State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi is planning to resign and plead guilty to a felony to settle a criminal inquiry into his use of state workers as chauffeurs and personal aides for his wife, a Democratic state official said today.

Lawyers for Mr. Hevesi, a Queens Democrat, have been in talks with prosecutors from the Albany County district attorney’s office this week, trying to head off an indictment by a grand jury that is expected to be handed up on Friday.

While officials at the district attorney’s office said that no deal has been reached yet, a Democratic official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that aides to Mr. Hevesi have told top Democrats in Albany that Mr. Hevesi will resign and plead guilty, with the understanding that he will serve no jail time.

One of the most powerful lawmakers in the state of New York announced he is under federal investigation. State Senate President Joseph Bruno (R-NY) told the media yesterday that the FBI is looking in to his business dealings. Bruno is the most powerful Republican in Albany now that George Pataki has retired. He has been one of the three people who have run the state for the past twelve years:

The New York Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, one of the three men who effectively control state government, said Tuesday evening that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was looking into his business interests.

Mr. Bruno, 77, who will be the state’s top Republican when Gov. George E. Pataki leaves office in less than two weeks, offered few details about the nature of the inquiry, which he said he was announcing because it had been leaked to reporters.

He said that he has known of the inquiry since late spring, and that he recently retained a lawyer. He said the investigation “appears to be related to my outside business interests,” but added later that he was “not sure” if it involved any official actions he has taken as Senate leader. He said he was told that he was not a target of the investigation.

Mr. Bruno said he did not believe that the inquiry would affect his ability to serve as majority leader.

“I am guilty of nothing, so why would it impact my ability to do anything?” he said.

The F.B.I. refused to confirm or deny any investigation. But one law enforcement official who has knowledge of the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity said that it focuses on Mr. Bruno and how his private business dealings may relate to his official position. The official said the investigation was still in the early stages.