As many of us look to cut corners this holiday season because of tight budgets thanks to the still difficult economy, I can’t help but think of some other “gifts” being given out this December. If you are a candidate thinking about running in the 2010 elections next year, you’re looking for some big gifts now – campaign donations. And you can’t skimp on those. To be taken seriously by January or February, people considering a run for Governor, Attorney General, US Senate, State Senate, Assembly and more must have anywhere from a few million (for statewide offices) or a few hundred thousand (for state legislature) in the bank.
It’s certainly possible to do it. 2010 will, even in a bad economy, be another extravagant spending year for candidates running for office in New York. And although campaign managers and the like are probably nervous about finding the money to run – it will no doubt turn up, from the very campaign contributors who have given in the past. Unfortunately, the largest contributors are those same anti-public interests who will want votes to go their way come the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions.
It still holds true that our friends at the large lobbying firms, the insurance industry, banks and other corporations give the most; much more than organized labor, and more than individual donors. And as we’ve seen over and over again through Citizen Action’s and others’ research – industries like health insurance, corporations polluting our air and land, big real estate and more, often get their way when it comes to what bills pass and what bills fail in New York.
The answer, of course, has been and continues to be a system of public campaign finance. A system where folks can run for office without soliciting contributions from the big wigs – but small donations from regular folks, who could afford to give the $10 or $15 dollars – even with a tight family budget. Citizen Action and its partners have been fighting for a system of Clean Elections for many years in Albany. It’s no surprise that it has been a long campaign with many ups and downs, those against us are well funded indeed. But we cannot give up the fight. In 2008 and 2009 we made great strides, making sure the New York State Senate elected members who are pro, instead of anti-Clean Elections. We will need to do the same during the 2010 elections.
I often stun people with the irony when I say – give a campaign contribution, or better yet contribute what you would give in a campaign contribution or any other gift this season to Citizen Action of New York. If we are going to truly change the way government works, for all of us, instead of the elite, we must fight and win Clean Elections and other campaign finance reforms. We must also support those candidates who take a strong and bold stand for Clean Elections in their campaigns, with our small contributions, and more so, our time, volunteering and energy on the campaign trail.
So as you shop for the $10 or less gifts this season – remember that those who want public policy to go their way are giving much more, even this early on. What can you do about it now? Put Citizen Action on your gift list. And remember you can give the gift of a Citizen Action membership to your friends and family as well. What could represent this holiday season better than the gift of a government and society that works for all of us? Happy Holidays everyone.