NY Fair Elections Rally Schedule

Obama's Organization for Action (OFA), is getting involved in a fight for campaign finance reform in New York. The campaign for Fair Elections is building steam, and real reforms that will transform our broken campaign finance system are within reach. But, they won't happen unless we make them happen. If we stand together for Fair Elections, we can restore New York's democratic integrity.

Albany Fair Elections Forum (Day of Action)
On April 2nd, Fair Elections advocates and partner organizations will hold a community forum at the Main Library in Albany. Hear from lawmakers who support Fair Elections and learn how we can fight for real democracy.

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Host: Kate Stevens
Location:
Albany Public Library - Main Branch (Albany, NY)
161 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12210

NYC - Fair Elections Community Forum (Day of Action)
On April 3, Fair Elections advocates and partner organizations will hold a major rally at 1199SEIU headquarters in New York City. Send a message to the State Legislature that the time for reform is now. If we demand publicly-financed elections together, we can restore New York's democratic integrity.

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Host: Kate Stevens
Location:
SEIU 1199 Auditorium (New York, NY)
310 West 43rd St
New York, NY 10036

Syracuse - Fair Elections Community Forum (Day of Action)
On April 4th, Fair Elections advocates and partner organizations will hold a community forum at City Hall in Syracuse. Learn how we can fight for real democracy.

Date/Time: Thursday, April 4, 2013 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Host: Kate Stevens
Location:
City Hall Commons Atrium (Syracuse, NY)
201 E. Washington Street
Syracuse, NY 13201

Westchester - Fair Elections Community Forum (Day of Action)
Money's influence on the political process is undeniable. Fair elections are the key to better government for everyone. This educational forum will address initiatives at the state level that seek to level the playing field and to encourage and support the possibility of new candidates entering the political arena.

Date/Time: Thursday, April 11, 2013 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Host: Kate Stevens
Location:
Greenburgh Town Hall (White Plains, NY)
177 Hillside Ave
White Plains, NY 10603

If you want to attend these events, you need to RSVP online. CLICK HERE to find these and other events.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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OFA Joins Fair Elections for NY

The reconfigured Obama campaign, Organization for Action (OFA), is getting involved in a fight for campaign finance reform in New York. It plans a conference call with grassroots supporters on Wednesday to urge action in the fight.

OFA will send an email to its list. The email references New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Fair Election Campaign and New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, will also be on the call. It marks an early, post-presidential election endeavor by OFA, which is just beginning to pick battles to engage in.

"In New York Elections, the voice of the public is being drowned out. Contributions from special interests, lobbyist, and corporations are far to influential. Disclosure is inadequate, and enforcement of the laws currently on the books is to lax." the email says.

Currently New York has two systems. New York City has tough campaign finance limits and a public matching funds system. The rest of the state has a very lenient system with 10 times the New York City limits. Gov. Cuomo would like to have one system and use the New York City system as its model.

As an interesting side-note, a New York City Mayoral candidate went to court to challenge the New York City limits and accepted campaign donations at the state limit. A judge hadn't decided the case but made the candidate put his donations into a court ordered escrow account so he could not use the donations. Today he gave up and joined the public matching funds system and returned the escrow donations to the donors. They now can donate at the smaller limits.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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Fair Elections Now in NY

New York state officials can do something about Fair Elections by supporting the Fair Elections plan to limit the influence of money in politics. The Fair Elections plan would help make elected officials more responsive to voters than to big donors by lowering contribution limits and implementing a system of public financing. Modeled after the successful system already in place for New York City, it would free politicians up to spend their time on the issues affecting their constituents, instead of dialing for dollars.

Fair Elections is a much-needed progressive reform that can help get big money out of politics and we should hope takes root in every state. Gov. Cuomo and other leaders in Albany have made statements supporting such a measure, but there is not much time left to act in this legislative session.

Gov. Cuomo said in his State of the State message that he supports reform legislation. Call Gov. Cuomo and let him know that you want him to follow through and make this a priority. Let Gov. Cuomo and your state senator hear from you today.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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