Election Theme: Voters Reject Politics of Big Money

by | Nov 4, 2015 | Press Releases

New York Politicians Should React Before 2016 Elections

Albany, NY – In reaction to election day results in New York and around the country, Karen Scharff, executive director of Citizen Action of New York, said:

“These elections are the first ripple in a tidal wave rejection of the politics of big money.

“A cloud of corruption hung over voting booths yesterday. Three special elections were held to fill state legislature seats left vacant because their occupants were convicted of corruption. On the home turf of Dean Skelos, Madeline Singas won a resounding victory running on an anti-corruption platform. And in Maine and Seattle, voters approved publicly funded elections referenda, which will allow more people to run for office without being forced to accept big contributions from wealthy donors.

“With economic inequality at it’s historic high point, voters need government on their side. They won’t allow their elected officials to be bought off by the same people who are widening the wealth gap in this state and country, the same people who put their own profits before the survival of our communities. While CEO campaign contributors and Wall Street bankers are raking in record profits, too many can’t make ends meet, especially people of color and women who get hit the hardest.

“New York’s politicians should take note. They will pay a price at the polls if they don’t enact the Moreland Commission recommendations including publicly funded elections, so that voters, not CEO campaign contributors, are in control of our democracy.”

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