The State Board of Elections says that that money is supposed to go toward maintaining a party’s headquarters and staff or carrying on “ordinary activities that are not for the express purpose of promoting the candidacy of specific candidates.” But the reporting requirements for such contributions are so vague that it is almost impossible for the voters to figure out how the money is actually being spent. That, of course, is what makes these accounts so wildly popular with both contributors and recipients.
According to Bill Mahoney of the New York Public Interest Research Group, over the last two years, the Democratic and Republican Party committees in New York State have received more than $11 million in “housekeeping” money. Among the big contributors: Greater New York Hospital Association gave more than $600,000 to the Democrats, plus about $140,000 to Republicans. Wal-Mart boosted the state Republican committees by almost $230,000, with about $40,000 to Democrats. Robert Mercer, a hedge-fund operator, gave $1 million to the Conservative Party in 2010. In the last decade, Mayor Bloomberg has donated more than $8.2 million to Republican and Independence Party housekeeping accounts.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said one of his top priorities is campaign finance reform. Doing away with unlimited housekeeping donations is a good place to start.
That is a good start to "Get Money Out of Politics".
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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