Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today released the details of an ethics reform deal that would overhaul how political business is conducted in Albany. There's a large obstacle remaining in their way—the Republican-led State Senate, which must also sign off on the plan. Senate approval is far from certain, however. Zack Fink filed this report.

On Tuesday night, Governor Andrew Cuomo took a rare trip up to the Assembly chamber to announce that he had reached an ethics deal with Speaker Carl Heastie. 

On Wednesday, the governor unveiled the details of that deal, but with no one from the state Senate.

"We believe this is the most stringent ethical policy in the United States of America," Cuomo said.

It's only a proposal, however, unless the Senate signs on and the reforms are passed as part of the budget, which is due April 1. But with the Assembly on board, Cuomo is now allowing public pressure for reform to focus on the Senate.

"It is not our intention to get jammed. If anything, we find that offensive," said state Senator John Bonacic.

Cuomo took an unusual tactic this year by stuffing major policy ideas into the state budget, all but daring the legislature to accept them or risk a late budget.

"He put himself in a small box and now he is looking to get this thing done with the budget. Whether this gets done or not, this is all fluid," Bonacic said.

The need for ethics reform was highlighted earlier this year after the arrest of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on corruption charges. 

"I consider it the single most important item in the budget. I've made that clear a number of ways," Cuomo said.

The ethics package includes pension forfeiture for all public officials convicted of a felony, and stricter disclosure requirements on outside income. Lawmakers are allowed to have other income since being a legislator is technically a part time job.

"There was a great tide that I think everyone felt pushing them and I certainly helped tried to make that clear, as did many others, that we are in a new era today," said Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky.

Some believe the best way to root out corruption is to ban all outside income and make the legislature full time with higher salaries. This agreement does not address that.