Weekend Editorial Round-Up: Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform in Albany

The New York Times supports reforming the Wilson-Pakula ballot access law and establishing an independent enforcement unit in the state Board of Elections, but sees public financing of elections as the linchpin of true reform.

Newsday is pessimistic that anything can change Albany’s “pay to play” culture.

The Times Union’s editorial board disagrees with the objections that Republicans have put forward in their opposition to publicly-funded election campaigns, though they do note that “[t]he use of government funds for campaigns must come with some rigid rules over how that money could be spent.” These include a demonstration of support from eligible voters via small contributions, much lower limits matchable contribution limits, “a clear beginning and end to New York’s interminable political campaign seasons,” a real enforcement unit with the state Board of Elections, and giving the Attorney General’s office broad authority to investigate and prosecute public corruption.

In a guest editorial in the Times Union, a former state archivist reminds us that there is nothing new about public corruption in New York.