The following was taken from the New York Times article on November 18, 1999. It is entitled "Philip Morris Gifts to Albany Legislators Put Focus on State Ethics Law" written by Clifford Levy. (The following list of legislators who took illegal gifts was printed in the newspaper, but not reprinted in the website.)
For the full article, go to the New York Times Website and type the following in the 365-Day Archive Search: "Philip Morris Gifts to Albany Legislators Put Focus on State Ethics Law"
This article explains why you should vote against these politicians.
New York Lawmakers on Tobacco Company's Spending List for Lobbying
State Ethics rules bar New York legislators from accepting gifts of $75 or more if the gifts are intended to influence them. Since 1996, roughly 60 members of the 211-member New York Legislature accepted meals and other gifts worth $75 or more from Philip Morris, the tobacco giant, in its efforts to lobby the Legislatures. According to lobby records released by the company last Friday, these are the lawmakers:
NEW YORK CITY STATE SENATE
Efrain Gonzalez Jr., (D) Bronx
Roy M. Goodman, (R) Manhattan
Serphin R. Maltese, (R) Queens
Olga A. Mendez, (D) Bronx
Guy J. Velella, (R) Bronx
ASSEMBLY
Peter J. Abbate Jr., (D) Brooklyn
Carmen E. Arroyo, (D) Bronx
Jeffrion L. Aubry, (D) Queens
Ann Margaret Carrozza, (D) Queens
Gloria Davis, (D) Bronx
Ruben Diaz Jr., (D) Bronx
Adriano Espaillat, (D) Manhattan
Stephen B. Kaufman, (D) Bronx
Jeffrey Klein, (D) Bronx
Ivan C. Lafayette, (D) Queens
Joseph R. Lentol, (D) Brooklyn
Vito J. Lopez, (D) Brooklyn
Catherine T. Nolan, (D) Queens
Felix W. Ortiz, (D) Brooklyn
Audrey I. Pheffer, (D) Queens
John A. Ravitz, (R) Manhattan
Peter M. Rivera, (D) Bronx
Steven Sanders, (D) Manhattan
Scott M. Stringer, (D) Manhattan
Robert A. Straniere, (R) Staten Island
Darryl C. Towns, (D) Brooklyn
SUBURBS STATE SENATE
Michael A. L. Balboni, (R) Nassau
Owen H. Johnson, (R) Suffolk
James J. Lack, (R) Suffolk
Carl L. Marcellino, (R) Nassau
Dean G. Skelos, (R) Nassau
Nicholas A. Spano, (R) Westchester
Caesar Trunzo, (R) Suffolk
ASSEMBLY
Patricia L. Acampora, (R) Suffolk
Thomas F. Barraga, (R) Suffolk
Philip M. Boyle, (R) Suffolk
Thomas P. DiNapoli, (D) Nassau
Donna Ferrara, (R) Nassau
Marc Herbst, (R) Nassau
Steven L. Labriola, (R) Nassau
James Gary Pretlow, (D) Westchester
Robert C. Wertz, (R) Suffolk
UPSTATE STATE SENATE
James S. Alesi, (R) Monroe
John A. DeFrancisco, (R) Onondaga
Hugh T. Farley, (R) Schenectady
John R. Kuhl Jr., (R) Chemung
Vincent L. Leibell, (R) Putnam
Thomas W. Libous, (R) Broome
Raymond A. Meier, (R) Lewis
Stephen M. Saland, (R) Columbia
ASSEMBLY
Michael J. Bragman, (D) Onondaga
Ronald J. Canestrari, (D) Albany
RoAnn M. Destito, (D) Oneida
Jay J. Dinga, (R) Broome
Charles H. Nesbitt, (R) Orleans
Robert C. Oaks, (R) Seneca
Robin L. Schimminger, (D) Erie
Frances T. Sullivan, (R) Oswego
Paul A. Tokasz, (D) Erie
George H. Winner Jr., (R) Chemung