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Associated Press - October 29, 2009 4:35 PM ET
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - While government watchdog groups call for an investigation of a convicted state senator's legal defense fund, another lawmaker says he's drafting legislation to clearly outlaw such funds for legislators charged with crimes and require disclosure of everyone who's ever contributed.
Sen. Neil Breslin, an Albany Democrat, says he'll be asking other lawmakers to pass his bill to ban the funds.
In a complaint Thursday, Citizens Union and three other groups ask the Legislative Ethics Commission to force Sen. Hiram Monserrate to disclose names and contributions to his defense fund and issue a binding opinion that the 2007 ethics law prohibits lawmakers from receiving gifts, including fund contributions.
Monserrate faces sentencing Dec. 4 for a misdemeanor assault on his girlfriend.
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