Lawmakers return to the Capitol this week to tackle the big issue of the session: approving a state budget.\u00a0 As part of that $140 billion plus decision, lawmakers will be forced to also debate a key issue: reforming the state\u2019s campaign finance and ethics laws.<\/p>\n
For at least 30 years, New York governors have called for sweeping campaign finance reforms.\u00a0 New York has the highest campaign contributions of any state with limits.\u00a0 Its disclosure requirements are weak and its enforcement essentially non-existent.<\/p>\n
But for all that talk, Governors Mario Cuomo, George Pataki, Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson achieved virtually no reforms.\u00a0 Lots of talk, no real action.<\/p>\n
Governor Andrew Cuomo swept into office in 2010 promising changes \u2013 just like his predecessors.\u00a0 And just like previous governors, for the first three years of his Administration, the governor talked a great deal about reforms, but achieved little.<\/p>\n
His ethics reforms were flawed; his redistricting deal allowed gerrymandering for the 2012 elections and doesn\u2019t make the situation better in the future.<\/p>\n
He has talked a great game on campaign finance, but hasn\u2019t yet scored the big win.<\/p>\n
Until this year.<\/p>\n
The governor included campaign finance reforms in this executive budget.\u00a0 Thanks to his predecessors \u2013 in particular Governor Paterson \u2013 Governor Cuomo has unprecedented powers to drive policy changes in the budget.\u00a0 While one may debate whether this is a good idea, the reality is that the legislature has limited authority to make changes to the budget advanced by the governor.<\/p>\n
By putting his reform initiatives in the executive budget,the governor will achieve one thing that has eluded his predecessors \u2013 a real debate on campaign finance reforms,including the big reform: establishing a system of public financing.<\/p>\n
At least on the surface, the governor has allies among the legislative leaders.\u00a0 Democratic Assembly Speaker Silver and Independent Democratic Conference Senate Co-Leader Klein have both said they support comprehensive campaign finance reforms, including a voluntary system of public financing of elections.<\/p>\n
Public financing is a necessary component of reform since without it only those who are wealthy, or have allies who are wealthy, can mount serious campaigns for elected office.\u00a0 Without a voluntary system of public financing, 99% of New Yorkers are shut out from considering such a run.\u00a0 Without robust elections, incumbents feel less pressure to respond to the public interest.\u00a0 And we have seen what that has led to \u2013 controversies and scandals.<\/p>\n
Only Republican Senate Co-Leader Skelos opposes the measure.\u00a0 His argument, ironically, is that elected officials \u2013 like him \u2013 are undeserving of public financing.\u00a0 But the impact of his opposition is limited: his conference represents a minority of the state Senate.\u00a0 The members of the Independent Democratic Conference and the Senate Democratic Conference overwhelmingly support campaign finance reforms.<\/p>\n
The Assembly has for decades approved legislation that creates a voluntary system of public financing. The legislation has always been blocked in the Senate.<\/p>\n
There is a majority of state Senators who are Democrats.\u00a0 Their leadership supports campaign finance reform.\u00a0 New York is tantalizingly close to achieving meaningful changes.<\/p>\n
The fate of campaign finance reform now is in the hands of the governor.\u00a0 He took the correct first step: he put his plan in the budget.\u00a0 A debate \u2013 behind closed doors \u2013 will occur.<\/p>\n
Given the tremendous institutional power of the executive, the support of the state Assembly, and the apparent support among many Senators, the fate of meaningful campaign finance reform will hinge on whether the governor can round up the necessary Senate votes.<\/p>\n
By April 1, New Yorkers will know how well the effort played out.\u00a0 In addition to a budget that meets the health, education, safety and poverty funding priorities of the state, whether there will be real changes to Albany\u2019s campaign finance laws will get decided.<\/p>\n
How that plays out will be a real test for the governor.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s all for now.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be keeping an eye on the Capitol and will talk to you again next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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