A federal jury in Albany this week could decide whether former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno broke the law while he was running one half of the state Legislature for 14 years.

Whether the verdict is guilty or innocent, though, Bruno's actions certainly illustrate the culture of corruption in our state capital.

Consider some of the basic facts of the case. During his time as the person in control of the Senate, Bruno was hired by financial investment firms to solicit clients, especially some of the major labor unions operating in New York state.

At the same time, these same unions were coming to Bruno seeking legislation and other political favors. The kicker - Bruno got paid when these unions signed up with his employer. And it proved to be rather lucrative: he earned $3.2 million.

Bruno had no qualms about working for his private-sector employer while he was supposed to be on the government job. In fact, he arranged meetings with his state staff and potential clients in his office suite. His private-sector paychecks were sent to his office, and his state-employed secretary was in charge of depositing them.

Bruno did not do much to deny the facts presented by the prosecution.

His defense essentially boiled down to this - what I did was perfectly legal. “It is a citizen Legislature, and that's what the public has to remember and I think will remember.”

In other words, Bruno is saying he had to do something to make a living outside this part-time job in the Legislature, which pays a measly $79,500, plus the tens of thousands of dollars in per diems and add-ons for serving in leadership posts.

What's most disturbing about the Bruno trial is his defense, and the fact that the defense may work.

Bruno could be right - he may not have broken any laws. And if that's the case, this trial is the most glaring example yet of the inadequateness of the state's ethics laws.