Common Cause, Georgia NAACP File Suit Challenging Voter Purges

From Common Cause Press Release:

Georgia’s Secretary of State has illegally purged tens of thousands of voters from the state’s registration rolls and could remove hundreds of thousands more unless Georgia law is brought in line with requirements of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), Common Cause and the Georgia NAACP charge in a lawsuit filed late Feb. 10, 2016.

CLICK HERE to read the press release.

The suit highlights an apparent conflict between State and Federal voting laws. The NVRA specifically prohibits states from purging individuals for having failed to vote; however, Georgia law places voters who’ve missed voting for the previous three years on an “inactive” list and then purges those who fail to verify their addresses and do not vote in the next two general elections.

CLICK HERE to read the 45 page (PDF) lawsuit.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NY Good Government Groups Rate Gov. Ethics Package

The heads of three major good government groups gave their evaluation of the ethics proposals New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo included in his State of the State address and budget presentation.

Ethics Proposal Includes:

Closing LLC Loophole

Outside Income - Limit lawmakers' outside pay to 15 percent of their base salary.

Public Campaign Finance System

Pension Forfeiture - Strip the pension from any public employee found guilty of a felony.

Lobby Registration - Proposed change in law that would force political consultants and those seeking state contracts to register as lobbyists.

Nonpartisan Constitutional Convention Commission - Pledged to commit $1 million to fund a nonpartisan commission to help prepare for a constitutional convention where voters could have a chance to redraw New York's constitution.

Reforms to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, or JCOPE - making the ethics watchdog subject to public meetings laws and requiring lawmakers to disclose their actual income rather than a range.

Susan Lerner of Common Cause, Dick Dadey of Citizens Union, and Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group expressed general contentment with most of what Cuomo unveiled during a press conference, but gathered to call for follow through and one key addition to the agenda.

The groups are quite pleased with Cuomo's plan to shut the LLC loophole, which allows donors to skirt the state's campaign contribution limits by creating multiple fronts. "We think the language the governor has proposed is strong and clear, and we do not have any suggestions for strengthening it, so please note that sometimes you can make good government groups happy," said Lerner regarding the loophole. Cuomo has been the greatest benefactor of the current system, though in the past he has expressed a belief that it should be closed while not necessarily fighting for that reform.

Lerner said she was also encouraged to see a public campaign finance proposal and election reforms put forward in Cuomo's plan.

Horner said that it was "proper" for Cuomo to put forth a bill limiting lawmakers' outside income to 15 percent of their state salary, which is currently $79,500, but may soon be increased. Still, he expressed disappointment that a measure of the bill that limits legislators from accepting advances from book sales does not apply to the executive branch. Overall Horner said he thought the proposal would "significantly reduce lawmakers' temptation to use private office for public gain." "The governor was given a historic opportunity to overhaul the state's campaign finance and election laws and in his State of the State message he largely delivered," said Horner.

Dadey, however, said Cuomo made a grave oversight by not proposing any bill that tackles "slush funds" in the state budget, pots of money that have been abused by legislators, as spotlighted in the cases against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former state Senator Malcolm Smith. Dadey said that the pots of money are "rife with potential for corruption," and said that the governor and the legislature should shed more light on how the money is used. "These lump sums must not be allowed to exist in such large categories...but rather lined out in budget," said Dadey. "If there is a reason for them to continue to exist that needs to be publically disclosed."

The groups praised Cuomo's plan to make reforms to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, or JCOPE, by making the ethics watchdog subject to public meetings laws and requiring lawmakers to disclose their actual income rather than a range. However, they said Cuomo didn't go far enough and that the structure of the board must be revamped to avoid deadlocks, the Comptroller and Attorney General should be allowed to appoint representatives, and the executive director should not be hired directly from the legislative or executive branches.

Dadey dismissed concerns that Cuomo did not make his ethics package part of his budget bills which would give him the upper hand in negotiations with the legislature. "I think they're so important that they have to stand alone. That's what I would like to think," said Dadey.

The groups had previously introduced a "Clean Conscience Pledge" at the start of the year, asking lawmakers and the governor to sign on to working to do everything they can to pass legislation limiting outside income, closing the LLC loophole, and making clear the purpose and recipients of discretionary funds in the budget.

So far 22 legislators have signed the pledge. Four of the signees are from the 103-member Assembly Democratic Majority, no members of the 31-member Republican Senate Majority have signed, nor has Governor Cuomo, a Democrat.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act!

Voting rights are in a state of emergency. Emboldened by a bad Supreme Court decision, politicians are launching unprecedented attacks in a handful of states, cuts to early voting and same day registration in North Carolina, a strict photo voter ID law in Texas, cuts to strong reform in Ohio, making it harder for the most marginalized among us to vote.

Common Cause is pushing back on these anti-voter efforts that hit voters of color, students, and the elderly hardest. But to stop these rollbacks before they start, we need to modernize and restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act.

The Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), a bill to do just that, is about to become the latest casualty of Congressional gridlock.

We have a unique opportunity for progress. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) is the newly elected Speaker of the House. He’s promised to fix dysfunction in Congress and unite lawmakers in support the essentials, things every American can agree are important.

And what’s more essential than voting? Please join our allies at Center for Popular Democracy Action to tell Speaker Ryan how important it is to fix voting rights.

Right now, the Voting Rights Advancement Act can’t even get a full hearing in committee, and if we can’t pass the VRAA soon, it’ll be too late to implement it in time for next year’s election.

This is Speaker Ryan’s first test: if he’s serious about uniting Congress behind the American people’s priorities, getting the Voting Rights Advancement Act passed should be a no-brainer. The right to vote is just too important to be a partisan political football. For decades, legislators crossed the aisle in Congress to protect our most fundamental of constitutional rights; we can get there again.

CLICK HERE to sign the petition at CPD Action: Tell Speaker Paul Ryan to pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

State and Local Efforts to Control Political Contributions

Efforts to rein in money in politics might be considered dead on arrival in Congress since a Supreme Court decision opened the door to unlimited contributions to allies of presidential hopefuls. But in statehouses and city halls across the country, reform efforts are gaining traction.

From the conservative statehouse in Texas to the liberal city council in Philadelphia, measures aimed at curbing the flow of political money or disclosing its sources are being introduced and supported by members of both parties. Overall, more than 125 bills dealing with campaign finance reform have been introduced in 33 statehouses in the past five months, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics. More have been introduced in cities as well.

A major bipartisan win for reform advocates came in April when Montana’s Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock worked with the GOP-controlled Legislature to pass a bill requiring all groups, including 501(c)(4)s to disclose their donors if they spend money on targeting or supporting a candidate within 60 days of an election.

Politicians on the state and local level, many of whom are afraid an outside group could fund a primary opponent against them, point to polls that show overwhelming support for campaign finance reform. A recent New York Times/CBS poll found that 85 percent of those surveyed believe the system for funding political campaigns needs either “fundamental changes” or a complete overhaul. Based on the same poll, Republicans were almost as likely as Democrats to favor further restrictions on campaign contributions.

On the federal level, since the Supreme Court opened the door to unlimited giving in the Citizens United v. FEC ruling, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has remained staunchly against efforts to limit political contributions, making it harder to garner GOP support on the issue.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) continues to blast the Koch brothers in floor speeches, and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton has raised the issue on the campaign trail. But in the absence of any hope for reform, Democrats are joining Republicans in raising big money, limiting the recent flurry of activity on the issue to states and cities.

- Maryland - GOP Gov. Larry Hogan recently signed a bill to maintain the state’s public financing system after being the state’s first governor to be elected using it.

- Rhode Island - Gov. Gina Raimondo signed four bills strengthening the state’s campaign finance reporting laws.

- Maine - Reform advocates have gathered enough signatures to put an initiative on November’s ballot that would increase the amount of money available to publicly funded candidates and require all outside groups to list its top three donors in ads and mailers.

- Philadelphia Board of Ethics - Advanced a bill requiring all groups to disclose their donors and expenditures and could go into effect as early as July 1.

A new group, Take Back Our Republic, formed by John Pudner, who served as a political consultant to David Brat, the academic who ousted former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, is also trying to bring more conservatives on board with reform efforts. The group launched 17 chapters in states across the country this month.

Pudner said there’s a lot more resistance from Republicans within the Beltway on the issue compared to the rest of the country. “It seems to be the more conservative members who are most concerned,” he said, adding that the issue has created a “true left-right coalition” in many places.

Dale Eisman, spokesman for Common Cause, which has state chapters pushing for campaign finance reform across the country, pointed to polls showing strong support for at least disclosure, if not other campaign finance reforms, to explain recent GOP support.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us

NY General Election Redistricting Commission Initiative

Many New York good-government groups is urging voters to reject a constitutional amendment establishing a new redistricting commission, saying it's an “incumbent protection scheme” representing a glaring broken promise by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The commission must be affirmed by voters on the November ballot.

Cuomo's decision to sign off on the current set of district lines, which were decried and challenged, but ultimately upheld in court, prevented Democrats from taking control of the State Senate.

Democratic insurgent Zephyr Teachout, a Fordham law professor seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, is aligned with most good-government groups who say the amendment, which was crafted in 2012 in exchange for Cuomo abandoning a promise to reject new district lines drawn by legislators, doesn't go far enough.

“With a fair redistricting system we would have a Democratic Senate, and he ran on this: he pledged that the way we would draw districts would mean the way we have representatives in Albany would mirror the people of the state of New York, the failure of the Dream Act and the failure of Fair Elections are all traceable to the fact that we don't have a Democratic Senate, and we don't have a Democratic Senate because Governor Cuomo has not acted like he's wanted one.” Teachout said.

Currently, a bipartisan, bicameral commission of lawmakers draws districts, with the current majority in each house doing its best to lock in partisan advantage.

The independent commission would still be mostly appointed by legislators and give lawmakers the power to draw their own districts if two sets of the commission's draft lines were deemed unacceptable.

Good-government groups, including the New York Public Interest Research Group and Common Cause, say this level of legislative involvement is a fatal flaw. They hold a Monday press conference in Albany to make their case, and to give out an award for the oddest-shaped district.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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H.R.20 - To Reform the Financing of Congressional Elections

On Feb. 5 2014, Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-12] and Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] Introduced H.R.20 (Government by the People Act of 2014) - To reform the financing of Congressional elections by broadening participation by small dollar donors.  There are currently 128 sponsors.

The bill has been refereed to:

- House
- House Ways and Means
- House Energy and Commerce
- House Administration

Common Cause Statement on Introduction of the Government by the People Act

"Giant corporations, special interests and ultra-wealthy donors shout through big-money megaphones to drown out the voices of hardworking Americans in the political process," said Karen Hobert Flynn, senior vice president for strategy and programs at Common Cause.  "This is bold legislation that would elevate our voices and free congressional candidates to work for us, not their big donors.  Common Cause commends Congressman Sarbanes, Leader Pelosi and others championing this effort.

“Common Cause has been instrumental in the adoption of successful public financing systems in states like Arizona, Connecticut and Maine. We know these systems can work and that they have important ripple effects – allowing more women and minorities to seek and win office and giving all elected officials the freedom to put the public interest first as they address tough issues."

CLICK HERE to read the bill(PDF).

CLICK HERE for current list of sponsors.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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NY Redistricting Update

I attended, last night, a Redistricting Town Hall meeting at Baruch College given by Common Cause with other Good Government Groups.

The short version was the Governor's statement today "You Deal with the Real". They think he will approve the Legislature's final lines, the Constitutional Amendment with some tweaking, and moving the State Primaries to June. If this happens, the Petition period would be March 20 - April 16.

Many groups are going to Albany to protest for the Dream Act and the Governor's Redistricting Veto. Today 10:30 a.m. – 1,300 immigrant New Yorkers gather in Albany for Immigrants’ Day of Action with a 12 p.m. press conference and rally at West Lafayette Park.

Some are saying the Governor knew about these final lines four months ago and will use his vote to get his Pension and Budget passed.

Common Cause said if the state was under pre-clearance the changes in Nassau, Brooklyn, Queens, and the calculation to get the 63rd state senate district would fail. Could become a court challenge if passed.

In advance of a suspected deal on redistricting between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature, the legislative redistricting task force known as LATFOR has set a meeting today for 11 a.m., according to a notice published late Tuesday evening. In the past three redistricting cycles, LATFOR met, discussed proposals, then voted to report the state redistricting plans to the Legislature, with the meeting itself being scheduled at least three days before the vote. This year, the meeting has been scheduled three days after the bill was introduced. The normal process was disregarded so a bill could be introduced Sunday to account for the required three-day aging process, in order to enable a vote today, a source involved in the redistricting process said. The meeting Wednesday will be a "rubber stamp" on the bills proposed Sunday, the source noted.

Central New York officials are calling on Albany to consolidate all of the state’s primary elections on June 26, arguing the three different dates amount to a costly mandate for municipalities.

Hope this gives you a sample of the dysfunctional New York Legislature.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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NY Campaign Finance Reform

During his State of the State presentation on Wednesday, Governor Cuomo called for a system of public finance for campaigns.

"I'm going to be sending you a bill on campaign finance reform that puts public financing, matched contributions, lower limits and increased enforcement at the Board of Elections," Cuomo said toward the end of his speech. "Let's have elections that New Yorkers can be proud of also. Let's have campaign finance reform and let's do it this year."

Good-government advocates have long said New York's limits are out of whack: An individual may donate $60,800 to a gubernatorial candidate and a unlimited amount to a party's "housekeeping" committee.

In his 2010 campaign platform, Cuomo included a pledge to move toward public financing, where small donations are matched with a common pool of taxpayer dollars. But his declaration Wednesday surprised many with its prominence and strength.

"We've never seen this kind of up-front support from a governor before," said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause.

Cuomo has been a prodigious fundraiser, raking in $34.8 million for his successful 2010 run — four times that of his Republican opponent, Carl Paladino, according to an analysis by the New York Public Interest Research Group. He has continued raising at a brisk clip, holding a birthday party last month where guests paid as much as $2,500 a ticket.

Until now, Cuomo's reform rhetoric has focused in other areas; while Assembly Democrats favor public financing, Senate Republicans have historically opposed it.

He did broker a bill requiring legislators to disclose more of their outside income and creating a new commission to serve as the Capitol's ethics watchdog.

But with all this talk of public financing, many states and the federal government is talking about removing, and in some cases already removed, that little check box on state tax forms.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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NY Citizens Redistricting Committee

With the census complete, New York will lose two congressional seats. We would like to see an independent redistricting commission.

One group. New York Uprising, is focused on the creation of a non-partisan redistricting commission. A new group, NY Citizens Redistricting Committee, will focus entirely on the mapping process, highlighting areas where the commission or the Legislature is leaving lines gerrymandered, and holding them accountable at meetings around the state.

NY Citizens Redistricting Committee will consist of a bipartisan 13-member panel of prominent New Yorkers from around the state that will critique the work of the non-partisan redistricting commission—or the Legislature, if no commission is formed.

Common Cause, the nonprofit and nonpartisan citizen's lobbying organization promoting open, honest and accountable government, also recently hired a research coordinator, Brian Paul, to operate the organization’s district mapping software.

State Sen. Mike Gianaris, who has been leading the charge for independent redistricting for the Senate Democrats, said NY Citizens Redistricting Committee could prove especially helpful if Senate Republicans go back on their pledge to create a independent redistricting panel.

“We know that redistricting has been abused in the past and we know that Senate Republicans are trying to renege on their commitment,” Gianaris said, “so we absolutely need an independent watchdog when the Senate Republicans try to further gerrymander district lines.”

But there is skepticism in the reform community about the group's potential impact, with some noting that New York Uprising’s effectiveness was through its campaign activity in last year’s election. Though Citizens Union signed on with New York Uprising early, other good government groups were less vocal in their support.

“The problem is that these people think politics is a dirty word and so they never accomplish anything,” said one person involved in non-partisan redistricting efforts. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, and I assume this will work about as well as their past efforts.”

We need as many eyes we can get to keep this process independent and effective.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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