Background Checks Ordered by New York Governor

One state governor is taking the status of employees seriously and ordering background checks for all of his workers.

New York Gov. David Paterson recently ordered background checks for all executive chamber employees after learning a check had not been completed on his chief of staff, who has been accused of failing to pay taxes. According to an article by the Associated Press, 60 percent of executive chamber employees haven't undergone completed background checks, and some materials employees previously submitted for checks has been lost.

Although not required by law, the background checks were started by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and never completed. The checks were specifically designed to discover and avoid any conflicts of interest, as an employee could lose his or her job if the background check discovered a conflict or some other major problem, such as a felony conviction, that the employee didn't report to the governor.

A background check had not been completed on Paterson's chief of staff, Charles O'Byrne, who failed to pay nearly $300,000 in taxes from 2001-2005.

O'Byrne claimed he informed Paterson of the tax debt and that he was suffering from depression in 2004 and again in 2007, and a letter addressed from O'Byrne to Paterson dated Jan. 28, 2007, was recently released. O'Byrne has since paid the back taxes with penalties and interest.

"I suffered from and have been treated for depression and, among other problems, I fell behind in taking care of my taxes," O'Byrne said in the letter. "I have spoken to the lieutenant governor about this and I am in the process of resolving the problem by completing and filing the forms and paying what I owe once I understand interests and penalties that will apply.

"I would be grateful if you would treat this information with some sensitivity as my staff does not know of my illness," he continued.

Comments

[wanda]

I personally admire the decision of Governor Paterson, ordering his employees to undergo background check is the best way to eliminate corruption and poverty. The best way on that is he should start from the employees with higher positions, on that way he can easily identify those who has many big assets opposing to the salary that they receive. Background check should be amended for the people’s sake and to stop the continuous corruption of those who are on the position.

[Background Check]

Background Check Service will let you search for in-depth information on address history, phone numbers, relatives & associates, neighbors, bankruptcies, evictions, tax lien, and criminal history.

[background check company]

Hi!!its a good thing to done by state governor to let his employee to be check that is one of thebackground services. Great job, and hope that other governor also will take this.

[Background check]

nice job! Maybe for it to be fair to to other officials, the governor should also put himself to undergo background check.

[Record Search]

Wow, the government itself had ordered a background check service? But for me, this move is very nice as public servants should also be free from criminal records. This will ensure the safety of the people around New York City.

[Background Search]

it will also advisable if they will conduct a criminal history search and public record search.