Albany, NY – In response to comments delivered by Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, which were reported in numerous outlets earlier today, Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, said:
Senator Skelos is once again misleading New Yorkers by grossly exaggerating the cost of a publicly financed Fair Elections system. The nonpartisan and widely respected Campaign Finance Institute’s research released earlier this monthputs the cost at $25 to $40 million – just $2 per New Yorker per year – far short of the $200 million Senator Skelos continues to claim. On the heels of the most expensive election ever, Senator Skelos – who leads the conference that has been the single roadblock to meaningful campaign finance reform for more than two decades – should hear the cries of New Yorkers who are sick and tired of their elections being bought by the highest bidder. Candidates who ran explicitly on a platform in support of publicly financed Fair Elections won their races. It’s time for Senator Skelos to stop making excuses and bring public financing of elections to the floor for a vote.
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