Legislative Gazette

Albany, NY

http://www.legislativegazette.com/day_item.php?item=913

A report entitled New Yorkers Pay When Big Money Plays: The Case for Public Financing of Elections was released today by Citizen Action of New York.
The report analyzes how campaign contributions affect bills relating to policy areas such as dealing with ticket scalping, rent regulations, health care and wetlands:
The group said campaign contributions made by wealthy corporations are preventing the passage of legislation that concerns the most important needs of the public. Karen Scharff, executive director of Citizen Action of New York, said lawmakers pay more attention to wealthy contributors than to non-profits and the public.
The group also hopes to pass a public funding of elections bill they said would give a voice to New Yorkers when voting for elected officials to address their concerns.
?The current campaign finance system gives too much control over how public policy is made in this state to big money campaign contributors. We need a system that provides transparency and accountability to the voters ? public financing of elections is that system,? said Scharff.
Citizen Action says bills such as these are being impacted by campaign contributions from companies with an interest in making sure they don?t pass:
- A bulk purchasing bill (A.2007B/S.121-A) would establish a prescription drug discount program that provides access to prescription drugs to participants at a discounted price.
- A health insurance rate regulation (A.3122/ no same as) calls for limiting superintendent control of insurance that allows rate increases above five percent for certain hospital service corporations.
- A ticket broker bill (A.8283/S.5525) would put a price cap on tickets that are resold in order to keep prices affordable for New Yorkers.
- A wetlands bill (A.6363/S.848 and S.4956) would give the Department of Environmental Conservation regulatory authority over Freshwater wetlands.
- A vacancy decontrol bill (A.2005/S.2237A) would make changes to the emergency tenant protection act relating to vacancy decontrol.
Scharff said a public funding for elections bill passed in the Assembly last year, however, under the former Republican control, it was not able to pass in the Senate.
Each of the five bills are pending in the 2009 legislative session and the report argues that passing public financing of elections for statewide offices would end the current system of the wealthy halting legislation they don?t like.
?New Yorkers can no longer afford not to pass public financing of elections for statewide offices,? said Scharff.