Hank Morris And Ending Pay For Play In New York

by: phillip anderson

Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 09:33:10 AM EDT

It's time to end pay for play
Until Albany enacts public financing for state races, offices like the comptroller's will remain too susceptible to corruption

If money is power, then the most powerful public official in New York is its comptroller, the sole trustee of a state employees pension fund worth more than a hundred billion dollars.

Just how that power can corrupt was evidenced last week in a searing criminal indictment by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and a corresponding civil complaint by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. In this hard-core version of Albany's already scandalous pay-to-play culture, two top advisers to former Comptroller Alan Hevesi allegedly shook down major firms and investors seeking business with the pension fund, garnering over $30 million in kickbacks and gifts.

...

The sweep of this indictment, how-ever, leads to the conclusion that those reforms aren't enough - that more fundamental changes are needed. Albany must finally enact public campaign financing for statewide officials. And to reassure taxpayers that the pension fund has the best possible oversight, a task force must evaluate whether there should be a board of trustees.

...

Whether New York should change its sole trustee arrangement needs to be examined. What doesn't need to wait is campaign financing. Not needing millions of dollars to run reduces the temptation to abuse the office.

Since DiNapoli took office, he has been recommending public financing for comptroller races. His proposal would cap spending in the primary and general election campaigns and allow the candidates to get $6 in public funding for every $1 raised. This still requires the candidates to solicit contributions of more than $1 million in private funds. It's a start.

The Morris indictment, however, should spark support for public financing for all statewide races. In the past two years, Gov. David A. Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have all supported campaign financing reform, if not outright public financing. Which ones will now take ownership of the movement for campaign reform - Paterson? Silver? Or Smith?

Attorney General Cuomo just hung a "For Sale" sign for all to see on Albany.Now, we need to see who's going to take it down.

The three men now running our state government have talked a good game for years on enacting significant and meaningful campaign finance reform. Now that the largest obstacle to achieving those reforms, the late GOP majority in the state Senate, has been removed, it's put up or shut up time.

The people of New York deserve nothing less than full public financing of campaigns. It could very well be the best money we've ever spent.

Your telephone is ringing, Governor Paterson. Pick it up.

The High Cost of "Pay-to-Play": Health Insurance Contributions Drive Up Insurance Rates

by: robinia

Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 18:01:26 PM EDT

Now, I'm a cynic when it comes to NYS Legislature's pay-to-play system.  But, even I was shocked by this report, titled "The High Cost of "Pay-to-Play": Health Insurance Contributions Drive Up Insurance Rates".
Partly because the dollars contributed were so skewed-- way more to the Republicans in the Senate, who obligingly block legislation from leaving the Insurance Committee, chaired by #1 recipient of largess, Jim Seward. You really owe it to yourself to look at the whole thing.  But, if you can't, at least check out the press release here

Here is what I think the money quote is, as to the report:

"Our report suggests that health insurance company campaign contributions explain why rate
regulation and other important health insurance consumer protections are not passing the
Legislature," said Scharff. "We are tired of wondering what matters more, the donors or the voters.
New York State must follow in the footsteps of Connecticut and pass Clean Elections, a voluntary
system of full public financing."

...and then, here is what to do about it:

In 2008, the Assembly passed A.11507, which would create a strong public funding system that would
give candidates four public dollars for every dollar raised in contributions of $250 or less from New
York State residents. Democratic Minority Leader Malcolm Smith of Queens has introduced a full
public funding bill in the State Senate (S.7175A) with 17 co-sponsors. The bill is modeled on a law
passed by Connecticut in 2005 that the New York Times called "an instant model for other
statehouses."

Malcolm's comin' out here to the country for BBQ this Sunday, so, you know he is gonna be hearing about it from me.... me, and fellow Clean Elections fan, Don Barber, no doubt.

Call Eliot for Election Reform

by: Michael Bouldin

Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 15:24:49 PM EDT

Governor Spitzer has made full public funding with Clean Money Clean Elections the cornerstone of his reform New York program. But he is getting resistance from Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, who is against public funding of campaigns, and from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who favors partial public funding. With partial funding using our tax dollars, candidates would still have to raise the bulk of their money from private wealthy donors, who would continue to have the upper hand in legislative matters.

When a friend of ours called Governor Spitzer's office to learn when he would introduce his Clean Elections bill, she was told that before he does, he is counting the calls to his office for it from each of the state's zip codes.

It's a quick call to 518 474-8390. All callers have to say is "I'm for full public funding with Clean Money Clean Elections" and give their zip code.

Give our man Eliot a call.