Plastics companies, oyster lovers, and a Canadian energy company have enjoyed unique access to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in recent years through a lobbying loophole that allowed a former legislator to directly contact a key figure in her administration.
State law bars Todd Kaminsky, a former chair of the Senate Environmental Committee, and other ex-lawmakers from lobbying the legislature for two years, but there are no restrictions on their interactions with the executive branch.
Kaminsky, now a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, contacted his former staffer Ashley Dougherty, who now advises the Democratic governor on environmental policy, at least nine ...