In a changing landscape for environmental legislation, chemical companies have leveraged a particularly potent means of influence in New York. Todd Kaminsky, a former state senator and now a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, has emerged as a key figure in guiding the dialogue on environmental policy with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration. State ethics rules restrict Kaminsky from lobbying his erstwhile colleagues in the legislature, yet a loophole permits him to engage extensively with gubernatorial adviser Ashley Dougherty. Dougherty, Kaminsky’s former aide during his tenure as chair of the Senate Environmental Committee, is in a position of considerable influence over the governor (Bloomberg Report).
This unconventional dynamic raises questions about the balance of power and regulatory oversight. Kaminsky’s efforts notably include opposing legislation like S.B. 4246B, which aims to hold manufacturers accountable for environmental impacts. This legislative pushback underscores the strategic advantage conferred by the existing lobbying framework, allowing influential actors to navigate around direct legislative constraints and shape policy through executive advisories.