Message from Liz...
On May 1st, my Senate Democratic Colleagues and I held a press conference calling for the immediate passage of urgently-needed campaign finance reform legislation. We were joined by dozens of representatives from good government groups and campaign finance activists like Common Cause/NY, Citizen Action, and the Center for Working Families, all supporting S. 3584B . The legislation represents a tested, commonsense approach that would increase accountability and reduce corruption in our elections, as it has already in New York City elections.
Passage of S. 3584B would allow everyday citizens back into the democratic process. The status quo in state elections is obvious - too many candidates are forced to rely on massive, four- and five-figure checks from lobbyists, special interests, and corporations. This stifles competition, it creates a pay-to-play culture, and it definitely influences the legislative process. In short, it breeds a culture ripe for corruption.
Campaign finance reform and a system of public matching funds would reduce the influence of special interest money on the legislative process. Enacting this legislation would strike a better balance that will allow challengers and incumbents to compete fairly, while capping the amount of public funds that will be expended and protecting the taxpayers. Key provisions of this legislation would:
- Establish a voluntary public financing system that imposes limits on spending, prioritizes smaller donations, and addresses how campaign funds can be utilized, to ensure that the line between proper and improper use of campaign funds is easily understandable and enforceable.
- Set maximum contribution limits for candidates for State Senate and State Assembly at $2,000 per election (or a total of $4,000 for a primary and general election cycle), the current federal level.
- Require campaign committees to identify contributions from registered lobbyists.
- Require the disclosure of the name, address and the amount and source of money raised by any "intermediary" or bundler of campaign contributions.
- Create new penalties for knowingly and willfully failing to identify independent expenditures as well as for knowingly taking excess contributions. The new penalty is a fine of up to $10,000.
- Require candidates participating in the system to participate in at least one debate before the primary and one debate before the general election.
- Create an enforcement unit within the State Board of Elections (SBOE), with a mandate that at least 35 percent of the SBOE's annual budget be dedicated to the unit, to promote increased enforcement of campaign finance laws
- Require that independent expenditures of more than $1000 which expressly advocate for the success or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or ballot proposal must also be reported.
- Bar individuals from soliciting or receiving of contributions for state or federal a campaign while serving in a senior policy position in the legislative or executive branch.
The good news for campaign finance reform is that this year, there seems to be something of a meeting of the minds on the importance of this issue from many of the major players. Governor Cuomo's State of the State message made public financing a priority, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has also introduced campaign finance reform legislation. Even major political donors seem to recognize the problem, and a significant number have joined a broad coalition of groups advocating for public financing.
The bad news is that the Senate Republicans remain intransigent on this issue. Majority Leader Dean Skelos has indicated he is opposed to reform, and rather than encouraging public discussion of the impact of money on our campaign finance system, the Senate Republicans continue to stifle debate. When my colleague Dan Squadron attempted to bring a resolution to the floor calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision and oppose full First Amendment protection for campaign spending by corporations, Senate Republicans didn't even have the courage to vote it down. They just bottled it up and refused to debate or vote on it, the same as they have done on countless other bills and resolutions.
Political spending in New York State is out of control. Massive five-figure checks from lobbyists, corporate insiders, and the ultra-wealthy have become the life's blood of politics in Albany, We need Albany focused on the whole economy and all New Yorkers, not just the narrow interests of a few big spenders. Comprehensive campaign finance reform -- with lower donation limits and matching funds to reduce the reliance on big checks -- is the only way to root out the corruption fueled by the free flow of money in politics.
I will be working with my allies on this issue in and out of government to continue to pressure the Senate Republicans to allow a vote on meaningful campaign finance reform legislation.