Governor Cuomo Calls for Campaign Finance Reform in State of the State Address

Governor Cuomo delivered his annual State of the State Address today, during which he called for “real campaign finance reform,” which includes:

• implementing a voluntary system of public funding of elections;
• lowering  contribution limits;
• enacting pay-to-play rules, including low contribution limits for public contractors and lobbyists; and
• improving the enforcement of the state’s campaign finance laws by “creating a new enforcement unit in the State Board of Elections with the independence and authority to investigate alleged violations.”

Common Cause/NY issued a statement supporting the Governor’s call for public financing of elections.

Each of these issues has been supported by reformers and good government groups in the past, but it remains to be seen whether the Governor is able to advance them in the Legislature.