by Kyle Hughes - Gannet News Service

      ALBANY _ A direct-mail campaign attacking state legislators for blocking lobbying reform will intensify following the Assembly's rejection of a ban on taking gifts from lobbyists, its organizer said Thursday.

      Manhattan bankruptcy lawyer Charles Juntikka said he expects to raise thousands of dollars from other reform-minded attorneys to send more than 500,000 "negative mailings" to voters in suburban and upstate districts.

      He has already paid to send voters 45,000 pieces slamming individual lawmakers over the lobbying issue. "The only way we get rid of these 3 a.m. deals where the leaders sell out the public interest is if some marginals lose their reelection races over political corruption," Juntikka said, using the term for a senator or Assembly member who may be vulnerable to defeat on election day.

      Juntikka, who says student interns at his Manhattan law firm are helping carry out the campaign, said he mailed out thousands of pieces of mail Wednesday attacking Assemblyman Ronald Tocci, D-New Rochelle, for talking gifts valued at $1,400 from tobacco giant Philip Morris and rejecting a ban on gifts and free dinners.

      "Coincidence? You decide. Tocci lets Philip Morris entertain him, then votes for sham gift-ban bill... Don't be mislead by phony reform," the postcard to independent voters in Tocci's district says. "Tell Tocci that if he doesn't clean up his act and vote for real reform, he'll be looking for a new job next November."

      Others being targeted with negative mailings attacking their efforts to reform lobbying are Assembly members RoAnn Destito, D-Rome; Alexander Gromack, D-Congers; and Jacob Gunther, D-Forestburgh. Also targeted are Sens. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette; John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse; Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton; Vincent Leibell, R-Patterson; and Thomas Morahan, R-Clarkstown. There is also a website: www.juntikka.com.

      Juntikka said he is not aligned with any partisan group, noting he's going after Republicans and Democrats alike.

      Juntikka said Morahan called to say he truly favored reform and to please stop the mailings to voters in his district. "Saying you're a good guy doesn't work any more," Juntikka said.

      Morahan said Thursday he wasn't offended by Juntikka's contacting his constituents. "His targeting me is not me per se," Morahan said. "I guess he just feels I'm one of the little lambs out there and by attacking me he'll get (Senate Majority Leader Joseph) Bruno's attention.

      The Senate passed a lobbying bill that reformers praised. It restricted gifts from lobbyists and required disclosure of lobbying of state agencies and local governments. But the reformers fear that a watered-down lobbying deal passed by the Assembly around 3 a.m. Wednesday with the support of Gov. George Pataki will be passed by the Senate when it returns here next week. Bruno has not said what he plans to do apart from following a voluntary gift ban if the Assembly does not enact a legal restriction.

      New York's current lobbying law expires on Jan. 1, prompting next week's unusual session. The bottom line for the reform groups is a ban on lawmakers taking expensive gifts from lobbyists.

      Juntikka was blunt about his plans in a letter to Tocci. "If Albany adopts a real gift ban now, there is a chance you will receive no more negative mailings," Juntikka wrote Tocci Thursday. "If not, you probably will receive 4-12 more mailings between now and the weeks before the election."

      "I should warn you that future mailings may come directly from my University of Michigan and Yale students and they are far less tolerant of the appearance of political corruption than even I am," he wrote. Tocci said Juntikka doesn't "really understand the nature of this incident" in which he and his son received gifts tobacco company Philip Morris valued at $1,400. The company's gifts to lawmakers has sparked the current lobbying scandal here.

      When the free tickets to a auto racing event were revealed, Tocci said he couldn't believe they were that valuable. "I'm a victim of a process that is absolutely imperfect and it's perceived to be something I did when I didn't," he said. "I believe I'm an innocent victim in this whole thing." Juntikka also sent a mailing to constituents of Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, who are not enrolled in a political party but vote in every election.

      "Nozzolio _ who refuses to support lobby and campaign finance reforms supported by Common Cause, the New York Public Interest Research Group and the League of Women Voters _ faces a tough election campaign," the card says.

      "Please call Sen. Nozzolio and his friends to relay a clear message: If they vote against reform in the Legislature, you'll vote against them on Election Day."

      Nozzolio was not available for comment Thursday, but spokesman Justin McCarthy termed Juntikka's criticisms "ridiculous. We voted for (lobbying reform) last week."

      "We understand (Juntikka's) frustration," said NYPIRG lobbyist Blair Horner, who has pushed the lobbying reform effort. "The most charitable way to describe the pace of reform in Albany is glacial."

      Juntikka has set up toll-free numbers for voters to call legislative offices, a move that prompted Senate and Assembly officials to pressure Bell Atlantic to make him disconnect the lines, he said.

Teen People
Election Issue- Students4Reform
by Michelle Hainer

NY Daily News
"Students Teach Good Government"
Editorial

NY Daily News
"Free Calls To Albany Take Their Toll" by Jim Dwyer

Albany Times Union
Students Launch Ads Criticizing State Lawmakers
Story by Lara Jakes

NY Newsday
"Putting Mouth Where Money Is"
by Matthew Cox

The Troy Record
Anti-reform Lawmakers Hit with Attack Ads
Story by Kevin Hogan

GANNET NEWS SERVICE
[Westchester Journal News] "Legislators Who Blocked Ban On Gifts Can Expect 'Negative Mailings,' Reform Group Promises"
by Kyle Hughes

Albany Times Union
Coalition Presses for Strengthened Lobbying Law
Story by Jay Jochnowitz

The Legislative Gazette
Lobby Law Called Cheesy
Story by Timothy Currie

NY Times Story
A Crusade for $100 Campaign Gifts
by Vivian Toy

The Daily Gazette of Schenectady
Group Takes Tonko to Task Over Ballot Reform Position
Story by William F. Hammond Jr.

Rochester Chronicle
Lobby Reformer Takes Aim At New Targets

Albany Times Union
A Story of Pockets and Privilege
Story by Dan Lynch

Other Articles On Corruption

NY Times Exposes Corruption By Gifts To 60 Albany Politicians
Story by Clifford Levy

NY Observer
NY Lawmakers Take (And Take and Take) Gifts From Lobbyists
Story by Andrea Bernstein

Troy Record
Campaign Funds Used For Pool Cover Debated
Story by Kevin Hogan


Gov. George Pataki
(800) 371-0555
Took $2000 in tobacco contributions

Hon. Sheldon Silver
(888) 894-3737
(Ask for Dan Conviser)
Took $2500 in tobacco contributions

Silver's Sham Gift Ban Bill

Sen. Joe Bruno
(888) 894-4652
(Ask for Mike Avella)
Took $3500 in tobacco contributions