NY 2014-2015 Budget and Campaign Finance Reform

Yesterday, New York Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders adopted a state budget that avoided the meaningful campaign finance reform they've been promising for years.

I had hoped that Governor Cuomo would seize an historic opportunity to pass public financing of elections in this state budget for all state and legislative races.  He told us that he was pressing for consensus on a system of public financing that would end pay-to-play politics in New York.

Instead, the final budget includes a "pilot" program that would apply only to the State Comptroller's office and would need to be implemented in just two months, mid-election cycle.

This proposal isn't a compromise.  It's a capitulation to the deep-pocketed interests that have so much sway at the Capitol and an affirmation of the corrupt status quo that prevails in Cuomo's Albany.

There is a good chance the current comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, with an over $2 million campaign fund and no credible opponent, will opt-out of this pilot.  But will others use the pilot to get into the race?

At the same time, Cuomo disbanded the Moreland Commission, whose top recommendation for fixing Albany's broken campaign finance system was to enact public financing of elections for all statewide and legislative races.  The commission was supposed to be a catalyst for reform, instead Cuomo ignored its proposals and ensured its investigations into public corruption would cease.

The fight for Fair Elections in the 2014 budget may be over, but the work this legislative session and heading into November isn't.

Good Government Groups will be in the streets talking to everyday people about Albany's dysfunction and continuing to build a movement for a renewed push against the CEO donors.  They will be going door to door to rally people to respond to their representative's failures.

We must hold accountable those in Albany who continue to protect the corrupt status quo.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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NY 2014-2015 Budget and Restoring Public Trust

In the New York Budget for 2014-2015, there is a section called Restoring Public Trust.

It contains:

- Tougher new anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

- A test for public financing of campaigns and elections using the 2014 Comptroller's race.

- The establishment of an independent enforcement counsel at the Board of Elections.

- Increase transparency of political contributors to independent expenditure committees.

- Disclose the outside clients or customers of State Legislators who had been referred by registered lobbyists.

Under the proposed system, the candidates will have to raise funds on their own—and report every contribution of $1,000 or more within two days. The contribution limit per person is $6,000.  Before becoming eligible, the candidates will need to raise $200,000, and $2,000 of that will need to come from contributions between $10 and $75 from New York residents.

The campaign finance deal for just the comptroller's race got a raw review from current Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.  DiNapoli, a Democrat, would face big pressure to opt into the system, doing so would cost him 73% of the $2.1 million war chest he's amassed.  He has no GOP opponent, so that could actually help fuel a challenger.

The final vote needs to be done by the end of the month, Mar. 31, 2014.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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