Campaign Finance and Public Corruption Update

Since (as of this writing) neither house of the Legislature has released their respective one-house budget bills yet, we do not know where the Governor’s reform proposals stand.

Last Friday night, the Senate Rules Committee introduced the four components of Gov. Cuomo’s reform package as four separate bills (see S. – S.6773, S.6774, S.6775 and S.6775).

Today’s Daily News reports that some “[n]ational liberal groups are questioning Gov. Cuomo’s commitment to creating a state campaign public financing system,” suggesting that the Governor has benefited from the current system and does not really support publicly-financed campaigns.

Meanwhile, five New York-based good government groups are taking the ‘carrot’ approach.

Earlier today, they wrote to Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver commending them for their past support on the issue, and asked them and Senate Co-Leader Dean Skelos to include in their respective one-house budgets public funding of campaigns; better election law enforcement; lower contribution limits; and enhanced disclosure of contributions and expenditures.