Progressive Leaders Say Public Financing is Key to Meaningful Campaign Finance Reform
Albany, NY – Newly elected state legislators Terry Gipson, Cecilia Tkaczyk, Patricia Fahy, and John McDonald, joined Senator Neil Breslin and leaders from community, labor, and faith organizations at a press conference on Tuesday to call on their colleagues in the legislature to strongly pursue passage of Governor Cuomo’s publicly financed Fair Elections campaign finance reform proposal.
As new developments are coming to light every day about what the State Legislature will look like come January, these newly-elected legislators joined together to make it clear that real campaign finance reform – which includes publicly financed elections – is their top priority for the new legislative session.
These legislators spoke just days after a new report was released by the Campaign Finance Institute, which shows that a matching funds system like what Governor Cuomo has proposed would cost no more than $2 per New Yorker per year.
The event was one in a series of events happening Tuesday. Other events took place in Buffalo, Binghamton, and Manhattan.
“For government to serve New Yorkers and for New Yorkers to have faith in government, we must change the way Albany does business,” stated Senator Neil D. Breslin. “That means creating a more accountable and effective government by reforming New York’s campaign finance and creating a system of public financing. Campaign finance reform would go a very long way towards leveling the playing field and returning the government to the voters.”
“There were many thrilling aspects of my first campaign for the New York State Senate. Having to spend a good deal of my time trying to raise money rather than talking about issues with constituents was not one of them,” said Terry Gipson, New York State Senator-elect. “I am dedicated to fulfilling my campaign promise of working to bring campaign finance reform in the form of Fair Elections to New York State. Now is the time to make it a reality.”
“The working people of my district and all of New York will never catch a break in this economy until we reduce the influence of lobbyists and wealthy donors,” said State Senator-elect Cecilia Tkaczyk. “Only through a system of publicly financed Fair Elections can we restore fairness and increase the influence of everyday New Yorkers in the 46th District and across the state. Less than $2 per year per New Yorker is a tiny price to pay to get our democracy back.”
“As a newly elected member of the New York State Assembly, I’m proud to stand with these organizations and urge my new colleagues in the State Legislature to pass a system of publicly financed Fair Elections,” said Assemblymember-elect Patricia Fahy. “I’ve now had more than my share of first hand experience of what it’s like to have to dial for dollars every day. The increasing emphasis on fundraising only strengthens to the influence of the wealthy while discouraging the middle class from running for office. I am anxious to work with Governor Cuomo and my new colleagues in the State Legislature to help level the playing field and ensure public financing of elections is signed into law next year.”
“The time for campaign finance reform is long overdue,” said John T. McDonald III, Mayor of Cohoes and Assemblymember-elect. “Recent decisions at the federal level have caused yet another paradigm shift in an arena where the average person is even further disadvantaged when it comes to seeking elective office. I look forward to working with my new colleagues in office at the state level on leveling the playing field as it relates to campaign financing.”
“Until we reform our campaign finance system with public matching funds, we’ll never be able to reduce the influence of big money campaign contributors who try every day to buy policies that will only make them bigger profits,” said Nina Nichols, a pastor and Troy City Council Member. “For our democracy to work, everyone should have an equal say in who represents us. It’s time for New York to have publicly financed Fair Elections so our government can finally focus on doing the people’s work.”
“This past November, New Yorkers rejected big money control over our elections,” said Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. “I’m proud to stand here today with these new legislators who have been elected as champions of Fair Elections – a small donor driven system that puts voters back in control of our democracy. Fair Elections will restore New Yorkers’ trust that their government is really working for them.”
“Every year, important legislation that would make our communities safer and protect our environment doesn’t get the chance it deserves in the Legislature because of the stranglehold that CEO campaign contributors have on our political system,” said Roger Downs, Conservation Director for the Sierra Club. “It’s time for New York to pass publicly financed Fair Elections, which will finally limit the undue influence of big money donors. The health and safety of every New Yorker is at stake.”
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