Campaign Finance Reform Push Begins (Updated)

Even though the Governor has not yet delivered his State of the State address, and the push to reform the state’s campaign finance laws has already begun.

At 10:30 in the Capitol’s LCA room, State Senator Liz Krueger and Bill Samuels (founder of the New Roosevelt Initiative) will discuss how campaign finance reform can be funded without the use of taxpayer dollars. (The Senate GOP has expressed concerns about using taxpayer dollars to fund political campaigns.)

At 11:30, NYPIRG and the League of Women Voters will release “a comprehensive analysis of fundraising” (link added) from the recent legislative elections, including a breakdown of the total campaign cash from businesses, individuals, and unions, a list of which business sectors donated, a ranking of the most prolific fundraisers among legislators, and a regional analysis of campaign donations.

According to the Albany Times Union, campaign finance reform is on the Gov. Cuomo’s 2013 “to do” list.

Update:  The Krueger/Samuels proposal is to impose an $8 million annual licensing fee for the up to 7 casinos that lawmakers and the public may approve in 2013, and use that money to fund campaigns.  Read coverage from the AP, Gannett and Capitol Confidential.