Two state lawmakers say they have the answer to a problem that has plagued the Republic since its inception, making politicians honest.

Inspired by the saga of George Santos and the lies and deceit that led to his ouster from the House of Representatives, they are pushing a bill aimed at preventing political candidates from lying about who they are and what they’ve done, and if they do, face serious perjury charges.

“This is simply requiring candidates for office to sign a sworn statement that their basic facts are in fact true and if they are not true, they are subject of penalty of perjury,” State Sen. John Liu, a Queens Democrat, said.

What You Need To Know

  • Two state lawmakers introduced a bill that would make politicians attest to their background under threat of perjury

  • The bill's sponsors say their proposal was inspired by George Santos, who is under indictment and had misrepresented his background

  • Members of the House of Representatives voted 311 to 114 to expel George Santos from his seat

“We’re in a whole new world and we actually now have to put in legislation to make sure people don’t lie,” Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, a Democrat representing parts of Nassau County in Long Island, said.

This sworn statement to boards of election would include military service, employment history, current residential address, an attestation that the candidate meets residency requirements and educational record.

Election lawyer John Ciampoli, who once counted Liu as a client, looked at the legislative text and found problems with it.

“It’s a legitimate question as to whether you can add qualifications for running for state office without doing it through the state constitution, without a constitutional enactment,” Ciampoli said.

And an issue with the First Amendment’s right to free speech.

“You’re asking people to describe their work experience, to describe their educational experience, if what I describe one way someone might describe another way and say that it’s a misrepresentation, and certainly that’s fair game in the political arena,” Ciampoli said.

In a world of brushed up resumes and inflated titles, the lawmakers say, the arbiters of what is fact and political fiction will be us, the public, not a government body.

“These are basic facts that we expect certainly the Fourth Estate to check the facts, we expect constituents, we expect good government groups, we expect opponents to check these facts,” Liu said.