Super PACs for Campaign Finance Reform

The New York Times reports that two groups will be make independent expenditures in support of campaign finance reform, including the public financing of campaigns.  One group is backed by George Soros’s son, and the other by a Facebook co-founder.  They say that they plan to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk for the newly created 46^th Senate District, and incumbent Republican State Senator Mark Grisanti in Western New York.

A third effort will utilize a statewide tour called the Caravan of Corruption on October 23 and 24, which (as its name implies) shines a light on some of Albany’s bad behavior.

Campaign finance reform advocates are pushing for:

• Public financing of campaigns through a small donor matching program;
• Lower campaign contribution limits;
• Prohibiting contributions and bundling by contractors and lobbyists; and
• Better enforcement of election laws.