Message from Liz...
I was pleased that Governor Cuomo identified public financing of elections as one of his priorities in his State of the State address. I have long supported legislation to create a public financing system for elections at the state level, similar to what we've had in New York City for the last fifteen years. Campaign finance reform is often presented as an esoteric issue divorced from more pressing public concerns, but in fact, the way we pay for our elections has everything to do with the kinds of policies our state pursues on other issues.
A case in point is New York City housing law. The ability of some New York City landlords and the organizations that represent them to funnel money into political campaigns everywhere in the state is a key reason upstate legislators with barely any multiple dwellings in their districts are so fixated on weakening tenant protections and undermining rent regulation in New York City.
In 2012 alone, the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and Rent Stabilization Association (RSA) donated over $1,000,000 to state candidates and parties. This represents only a portion of the amount that real estate interests put into political campaigns, as some individual landlords are also significant contributors, spending far above the individual limits by funneling their contributions through dozens of separate LLCs. Thanks to a loophole in the law, each LLC can make its own donations above and beyond its owner's maximum allowable donations. Individual landlords have used this loophole to funnel tens or even hundreds of thousands in donations to individual candidates. To think that all this money does not change outcomes in Albany is politically naïve.
Housing policy is only the beginning. The influence of the banking industry undermines the ability of the state to enact consumer banking reforms and protect mortgage holders. The influence of the oil and gas industry impacts the willingness of legislators to move legislation banning or tightly regulating hydrofracking. And of course, the influence of large corporations and selected conservative donors makes it difficult to build support for progressive taxation.
Massive five-figure checks from lobbyists, corporate insiders, and the ultra-wealthy speak louder than voters. They have become the life's blood of politics in our state, when 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.
Governor Cuomo's vocal support for public financing means that right now we have the best opportunity for action that we have ever had. I hope you will join me as we work to build public support for action to make our elections more about voters and less about who gives the dollars.