Campaign Finance Bills Now Available for Markup on Senate Website

Kudos to the committee (4.00 / 3)

Joe Addabbo has been doing a great job as chair of the Senate Elections committee, and so has his committee counsel, David Kogelman.  They dove in and produced a flurry of excellent legislation in their first year.

As regards the three campaign finance systems in draft mode, I'll have more to write on these bills after I've read them.  I'm known as a big supporter of a true "Clean Elections" system, have lobbied hard for it, and have drafted legislation that sits in the NYC Council (Intro 803).

I have done a study on NYC's matching funds system, and can demonstrate that it fails to achieve its purposes -- not only do the same people get elected in the same manner (raising a lot of money), but also large donors/fundraisers are just as important as ever.  Since the same people get elected by the same means, it stands to reason that there is no difference in the manner in which they govern, i.e. by "paying off" their bid donors and fundraisers.

In addition, I have analyzed the "hybrid" legislation in Congress (H.R. 1826), and found it to be, despite best intentions, completely worthless.  We will be throwing about a billion dollars down the drain every two years, merely so that party committees can be deluged with money.  (Anyone interested in seeing this analysis should e-mail me at dan--at--danjacoby.com.)

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 18:24:11 PM UTC

You are very well-versed on this subject (4.00 / 1)

u should let the Stnate know your opinions and analysis on this

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by: Roatti @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 18:49:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

seriously, dan (4.00 / 1)

getting folks like you involved is what this whole endeavor at the senate site is all about. please do stop by and share.

TODAY is day one. It always is.

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by: phillip anderson @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 19:07:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks to both Roattti and Phillip (4.00 / 1)

I can assure you I am in contact with the committee, and will offer whatever advice/analysis/thoughts I can.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 19:23:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Congrats to the Senate Democrats (0.00 / 0)

for doing something about New York's campaign finance system.

Another good thing to do would be to institute stricter contribution limits.

Right now, an individual can give $2,400 to a presidential, U.S. Senate, or Congressional candidate (and another $2,400 if there's a primary).

Here in NY, an individual can give $37,500 to statewide candidates (more if a primary is involved).

At the federal and state levels, rich people often double or more their ability to buy access to politicians by maxing out for their spouse and kids also, and by bundling from their friends and employees.

Taking NY's $37,500 individual limit down to $2,400 won't end the influence of the rich on state government, but it would limit it somewhat.

And would certainly be popular among the 99 percent-plus of voters who would not be affected.

 

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by: devtob @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 23:59:41 PM UTC