New Campaign Finance Reform Effort Developing

City & State New York reports that good government groups are joining with the Working Families Party in a campaign to advance campaign finance reform.

The goals of the effort will be to enact a New York City-style public financing system, close some of the loopholes that exist in the state’s current campaign finance system, and having better oversight and enforcement of the law.

The coalition is hiring Jennifer Cunningham and SKD Knickerbocker to develop a media relations strategy.

City & State compares the nascent effort to the successful 2011 effort to enact marriage equality into law.  The article notes that while the group is coordinating with the Governor’s team, they are expected to develop their own strategy “and present it to the governor’s team for approval.”

You can read what Governor Cuomo said about campaign finance in his State of the State Address here, and read about New York City’s voluntary matching funds program here.

Given the Governor’s legislative successes of 2011 and high public approval ratings, this effort will certainly be one to keep an eye on.