Groups Call for an End to Party “Housekeeping” Funds

Earlier today, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and NYPIRG held a press conference announcing a report on party “housekeeping” accounts, and calling for such accounts to be abolished, or at least reined in, as part of a broader reform of the state’s campaign finance system.

Read the press release, and Common Cause’s report.

According to the state Board of Elections:

“Housekeeping” is a term that refers to the receipts and expenditures of only a party or constituted committee used to maintain permanent headquarters and staff, and to carry on ordinary activities that are not for the express purpose of promoting the candidacy of specific candidates. [Election Law § 14-124(3)].

These are funds that are supposed to go to “party building” activities — not actual campaigns.

The good government groups refer to such funds as “soft money,” and argue that they constitute a “huge, gaping loophole” in the state’s campaign finance laws and do sometimes get spent in support of candidates.

The report provides data that looks at who is making “housekeeping” donations to political parties, and on what the party committees are spending housekeeping funds on. It also notes that such donations have increased by 24% over the last six years.