Andrew Cuomo For Attorney General
Reforming New York State Government
Campaign Finance Reform
April 24, 2006
Government can be a positive force in peoples lives and today, more than ever,
transparency and accountability in government is essential. However, my belief in
government is not an absolute. Government must change to meet the needs of the people
and the demands of its times and there is no question that the government of the state of
New York needs fundamental changes.
Restoring Public Trust
Today, people sense that their government is overly influenced by special interests and
lobbyists, as opposed to the citizens it was designed to serve. The first step in restoring
the public’s trust in government can only be done when we address the way campaigns
are financed and give the government back to the people. Campaign finance reform is
essential to regaining this trust. While we fight to overhaul public education\, rebuild
downtown, reform Medicaid, and develop the upstate economy, we must restore the basic
relationship of trust and respect between government and the people. Government must
be competent and credible.
New York State needs fundamental and sweeping reform.
The Need for Campaign Finance Reform
New York State has not reformed the status quo of campaign finance. Instead, they
continue to cling to laws that conveniently protect incumbents who are re-elected 99% of
the time. In fact, incumbent legislators have been beaten only 30 times in the past 22
years.
An individual in New York can give over 20 times as much to a candidate running for
New York Attorney General as they can to a candidate running for the Presidency.
Together with this are disclosure laws that are too lax. The Democratic and Republican
state parties have become addicted to soft money and the six-figure checks that flow
through their committees. New York, once a leader in progressive reform and
government, has become a follower.
Many of the campaign finance abuses that are legal in New York are illegal in the federal
system, and banned by many states. The Federal Election Campaign Act amended in
1974 prohibits federal contractors from making contributions to candidates for federal
office during the term of their contracts. Almost thirty years later, New York still does
not have such a law, and vendors routinely contribute to political campaigns.
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In 1994, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enacted Rule G37, which
prohibits the hiring of securities underwriters or brokers who have contributed within the
past two years to candidates for offices with the discretion to hire them. A great New
Yorker, Arthur Levitt, Jr., enacted this reform. But we appear to have learned nothing
from his example.
New York is presently far behind Washington DC and many other states in enacting
responsible campaign finance legislation. In West Virginia, the law essentially forbids
anyone who bids or has a public contract from contributing to any political party. In
South Carolina, a corporation, individual or entity awarded a contract with the state may
not contribute to a public official who is in a position to act. In Kentucky, like the SEC
rule, the law prohibits the receipt of a government contract by a campaign contributor.
States like Connecticut, Vermont, Indiana, and Nebraska have versions of these ethical
restrictions to end the “pay to play” practice for state contracts.
Nine Steps to Fixing Albany
The goal is simple: the cleanest, most honest, most ethical government in the United
States. And the means are clear: we must put in place strict campaign finance laws and
high ethical standards. New York must be willing to leave the stagnant waters of state
government behind and face the rapids of reform. Only then can government truly work
for the people.
New York needs new laws that set standards in the following nine areas:
1. Public Financing - Limited public financing of elections is essential so that races
aren’t decided by who has the best rolodex of donors. It works in New York City,
Massachusetts, Vermont, Arizona, and Maine, among others. It can work in Albany.
Public financing must be limited, but still significant enough to level the playing
field. I propose a 4-to-1 match up to $1000 per contribution: modeled on the New
York City system.
2. Campaign Spending Limits – New York State must institute responsible spending
limits on campaigns so candidates can spend more time talking to voters than to
donors. This will open up elections to challengers with unlimited ideas for
government but with limited resources to run.
3. Soft Money – We must ban soft money from elections to keep contributions that
cannot come in through the front door from coming in the side door. No loopholes,
no exceptions.
4. Political Party Committees - We need to limit contributions to state party
committees to $10,000 per year.
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5. Corporate Contributions – The corporate subsidiary loophole must be closed so all
subsidiaries are bound by the corporate limit.
6. Disclosure and Transparency – Full disclosure must be required every step of the
way for every contribution from any entity or individual, and for any intermediaries
used in the process. New York City requires it. It’s time for New York State to do so
as well.
7. Contractor Contribution Limits- I support a $300 across the board maximum
campaign contribution limit for all contractors doing business with the state and any
lobbyists representing them. This contribution limit would apply to statewide offices
and legislative offices alike for each election cycle.
8. Moratorium on Contributions from Pharmaceutical Companies- I will propose
we prohibit any political contributions from drug companies that are seeking to do
business with the State. This restriction would remain in place at least until the State’s
preferred drug list is completed. New Yorkers should not feel that their healthcare is
being dictated by a special interest.
9. Individual Contribution Limits- We need strict limits on candidate contributions.
For statewide candidates, current law allows contributions of up to $16,200 in the
primary, and $33,900 in the general - over $50,100 for the two elections combined.
NYPIRG, members of the State Assembly, and numerous other good government
groups have proposed ranges for both caps and limits which will serve as a basis for a
reasonable approach.
Now is the time for New York to restore its legacy of progressive reform and good
government. We can fix Albany. New York has a long and proud history of reform. As
Governor, Teddy Roosevelt dramatically reformed our election and civil service laws.
Governor Lehmann brought sweeping financial reforms. Samuel Gompers set the
standard for progressive labor rights reforms. Elizabeth Cady Stanton launched the fight
for women’s rights in Seneca Falls. Jacob Riis exposed the unconscionable poverty that
plagued New York City and brought significant reform to help the poor. It has been our
past, and it can be our future.
We must make New York State deserving of the public’s trust and restore faith that
together we can make New York the Empire State once again.
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