Andrew’s ‘Oversight’ Error

Gov. Cuomo bristled this week when a reporter asked about adding independent oversight for state economic-development programs: “You do have independent oversight, right? That’s called 62 district attorneys, an attorney general, US attorneys in the Southern District, Northern District, etc.,” he said.

Really, governor? By implication, that means anything’s OK unless it’s criminal — and that the public is adequately protected by prosecutors going in after the fact, even if billions have illicitly gone out the door.

Of course, prosecutors have indicted nine people for corruption surrounding the Buffalo Billion projects — including Cuomo’s longtime closest aide, Joe Percocco.

But maybe, if proper controls were in place, all that alleged bid-rigging wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

Cuomo has his own ideas for more over- sight — by officials he appoints. But he has no appettite for restoring the powers taken from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in 2011 to eye the contracts in question.

The gov is also rebuffing efforts by the Assembly to require financial disclosures by the decision-makers of his Regional Economic Development Council — which doles out $750 million a year in grants, tax breaks and other incentives.

To be fair, state lawmakers are also resisting Cuomo’s push for new ethics rules to govern their work.

We’d suggest that all sides ought to agree to greater transparency and independent oversight. It’s long past time to root out Albany’s culture of influence-peddling and corruption.

If the governor and Legislature insist on leaving the job to prosecutors, there’s an excellent chance they’ll wind up regretting it.