The Independent View: New York's Ghost Political Committees

Ghost committees proliferate in New York years after politicians leave office. The committees can be used for another run for office or to support charities or other politicians. But the rule prohibiting personal expenses is sufficiently vague that it seems anything goes — and proposed legislation to rein in the phenomenon has gone nowhere.

"The biggest concern is that the rules are such that they've got this money and can continue to fund their personal lifestyle," said Bill Mahoney, research coordinator for New York Public Interest Research Group, which has tracked ghost committees. "It's not supposed to be for personal use but that has gradually been watered down. Some use it for frequent meals that most people would have to pay for out of their own pocket."

Local numbers pale compared to the remaining coffers of some former officeholders statewide, according to the most recent filings with the state Board of Elections, in July. Ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner had just under $4 million left from his failed 2013 mayoral bid. Robert Morgenthau, the longtime Manhattan district attorney who has contributed $130,000 to nonprofits since leaving office in 2009, still had $579,000.

A recent NYPIRG report on ghost committees among former state legislators showed 87 still-active committees were sitting on $5.5 million, including Morahan and seven other deceased politicians and several others convicted of corruption. Among them is Pedro Espada Jr., the ex-South Bronx state senator with a Mamaroneck home, who has three years remaining in federal prison. Three of Espada's campaign committees have a total of $371,000.

Vito Lopez, the Brooklyn assemblyman chased from Albany in a sex harassment scandal, had $769,000 remaining. Carl Kruger, the ex-Brooklyn state senator, spent more than $1.5 million for legal fees before pleading guilty to corruption charges. Friends of Carl still has $412,000.

Other than a $20,000 donation to Albertus Magnus High School in Bardonia, Citizens for Morahan has spent virtually nothing since his death. James Hartwick, the committee treasurer, said it was the senator's wish to have his campaign money sent to worthy nonprofits but he was still awaiting direction from Morahan's family.

A bill proposed by state Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Brooklyn, three years ago failed to get out of the elections committee. It called for disposing of campaign funds within four years of leaving office, either by returning money to contributors, donating it to charities or contributing it to other political committees, the state general fund or the state university system.

One of the Republicans on the committee who opposed the measure was Putnam's Greg Ball, who came under scrutiny over his campaign finance reports this year. Ball did not run for re-election last week, and his committee, New Yorkers on the Ball, still had $86,000 as of July.