FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Belsky
ALBANY (5/4/2009) - The executive committee of the Student Assembly of the State University of New York will move forward in filing an official complaint with the New York State Commission on Public Integrity against New York State budget director Laura Anglin. The decision comes as Anglin recently accepted a new role with the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities as their seventh president.
The major point of the filing is to bring to light that Anglin was involved with making critical budgetary decisions affecting both public and private universities while interviewing for the job. Additionally, the role of president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities is primarily to serve as their chief lobbyist. New York State Public Officers Law outlines restrictions on former state employees and their ability to lobby state entities.
Melody Mercedes, trustee and president of the Student Assembly, made it clear what the purpose behind this action was. "Students have a loud voice in New York State politics, but it is one that is all too often pushed to the side. In this instance, we feel our rights have been violated by the actions outlined in the complaint. It is for this reason we are making a point to reveal this unethical behavior that has potentially cost so many students the access and affordability they need in public higher education to have the opportunity for success."
The actual complaint filed with the Commission on Public Integrity is attached.
To: Herbert Teitelbaum, Executive Director, New York State Commission on Public Integrity
From: Student Assembly of The State University of New York
Date: May 4, 2009
Re: The Appointment of New York State Budget Director Laura Anglin as President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Mr. Teitelbaum:
It has become public knowledge in recent days that Laura Anglin, the New York State Budget Director, has accepted a new job. Starting in July, Ms. Anglin will serve as the seventh president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, the major lobbying arm of private higher education in New York State.
We see this as an immediate violation of the rights of every student that attends a SUNY or CUNY institution. The following enumerates our concerns:
- Ms. Anglin was Director of the Budget during the most critical budget cycle in the history of public higher education, if not the state as a whole.
- During that process CUNY and SUNY were given drastic cuts to their state support, with claims that it was necessary to close the deficit.
- At the same time, Bundy Aid, which is the state support received by private institutions in New York State, was cut only by five percent.
- During the time these decisions were made, Ms. Anglin was in the process of interviewing for the job she has recently accepted with the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.
- The following is an excerpt from Public Officers Law §73:
8. (a) (i) No person who has served as a state officer or employee shall within a period of two years after the termination of such service or employment appear or practice before such state agency or receive compensation for any services rendered by such former officer or employee on behalf of any person, firm, corporation or association in relation to any case, proceeding or application or other matter before such agency.
(ii) No person who has served as a state officer or employee shall after the termination of such service or employment appear, practice, communicate or otherwise render services before any state agency or receive compensation for any such services rendered by such former officer or employee on behalf of any person, firm, corporation or other entity in relation to any case, proceeding, application or transaction with respect to which such person was directly concerned and in which he or she personally participated during the period of his or her service or employment, or which was under his or her active consideration.
- The role of the president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities is to be the chief lobbyist for private higher education institutions to the Governor, Legislature and relevant state agencies.
- It is clear that by accepting the duties associated with serving as president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, Ms. Anglin violates the Public Officers Law.
With these items in mind, we file an official complaint with the New York State Commission on Public Integrity on behalf of the students of the State University of New York.
We thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Melody Mercedes Samantha Bernstein Garret Komarisky Joseph Antonelli
President
Please forward all correspondence related to this matter to:
David Belsky, Director of Communications
Student Assembly
State University Plaza
Albany, NY 12246
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