ALBANY, NY – New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is employed by a Long Island law firm, whose lobbying efforts have resulted in millions of dollars’ worth of state grants and contracts according to state records, Newsday reported.

Though state legislators, like Skelos, are permitted to have jobs in the private sector, the connection must not result in a conflict or interest, or suggest even the appearance of impropriety. Those are notions on which Goernor Andrew Cuomo plans to focus to make the dual roles clearer.

Skelos is listed as “of counsel” for the law firm Ruskin Moscou Faltischek in Uniondale, and the lobbyist, Empire Government Strategies, shows the nexus of public and private transactions, Newsday reported.

Skelos is listed as “of counsel,” at the firm, and makes up to  $250,000 per year there, in addition to his $120,000 state salary Newsday reported.  Newsday also noted that Skelos is the only attorney at that firm who does not list a specialty, and there is no information provided about how he specifically avoids potential conflicts of interest.