Governor to Get Behind Effort on Campaign Finance Reform Effort

The NY Times reports that Gov. Cuomo will coordinate with the Protect Our Democracy campaign, which is supported by a group of wealthy political activists, to push for publicly financed elections.

The effort will include a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization and “targeted electoral efforts” via PAC. (Read the group’s press release here.)

The goal will be to adopt a campaign finance system similar to New York City’s, which matches small, local contributions at a 6-1 rate.

Steve Cohen, Gov. Cuomo’s former Secretary, is coordinating the effort.

In his most recent State of the State address, Gov. Cuomo called for “comprehensive reform of the state’s campaign finance system….that includes matched contributions and lower contribution limits, and increase enforcement at the Board of Elections.”

A spokesman for Gov. Cuomo said the governor plans to coordinate with the new group.

An Assembly bill that would enact such a system advanced made it to the calendar in that house (read a prior blog post here).  But there was no progress in the Senate, where the cost of such a system – not to mention the perception that the public is paying for political campaigns — is certain to a major concern.