Getting Democracy Back in NY State, Step 1: Campaign Finance Law Reform
Earlier this year, I had an interview with a mayoral campaign, and I asked the Deputy Campaign Director why he worked on campaigns. His answer still rings true for me: “Because getting the right people elected is the single most important decision we can make it in a democratic system.”
And how can we get the right people elected? Well, making it so they’re not lap dogs to only the rich and powerful could be a start. A Times editorial, written with the help with the independent watchdog group NYPIRG, lays out the sordid details of just how lax campaign finance laws are in the state of New York. Here in the city, the laws are much more strict; but Albany is still ruled by the iron law of cash.
Here’re the (frightening) numbers:
- The average national limit for contributions in governor’s races is around $7,500 per election. In New York, the limit, if you can call it that, is $55,900 per person, more than the average New Yorker’s salary. The limits are high for other races as well — $15,000 per donor for a Senate race and $7,600 for an Assembly candidate.
- Donations from individuals to political parties are limited to $94,300 per year, but there are no limits at all for contributions to something called party housekeeping, or party building.
- New York law requires politicians to use campaign funds for campaigns. But most incumbents do not have to spend a lot since, thanks to gerrymandering, service in New York’s Legislature is almost a lifetime sinecure.
Making democracy work better for average New Yorkers, instead of special interests and folks who have the hundreds of thousands of dollars to give away, has to start with with reforming campaign finance law. The Times suggests:
¶Bring campaign contribution limits in line with those in most other states. That means no person or corporation could give more than a few thousand dollars to any one candidate.
¶Require politicians to fully and more precisely identify donors, including “bundlers” who give huge amounts by organizing groups of individual donors.
¶Get rid of the “housekeeping” accounts, which just give the rich even more political advantage.
¶No more slush funds. Politicians should spend campaign contributions only on offices, mailings, signs, ads — the real stuff of elections.
¶Create a workable enforcement unit at the Board of Elections and give it the authority to levy fines that bite. Refer the worst cases for prosecution.
The good news is that Senators Schneiderman and Squadron in the NY State Senate have introduced ethics legislation to bring about some of these changes. You can find out more about the legislation and give your own State Senator a ring to support the legislation at just about the only thing that works in Albany: the NYSenate.gov website.
Pedro is Watching
November 29, 2009 2:06pm | Chas | Uncategorized
As investigations continue into Pedro Espada Jr’s corruption (since I never get that Red Ryder – I’m rearranging my xmas list for Pedro’s senate seat this year – can xmas elves arrange special elections?) – Pedro has apparently told his staffers to talk to his counsel before meeting with any investigators, you know, in case they are thinking of joining a whistle band or something…
Love that Pedro!
Espada, however, said it was all routine. “Employees are entitled to in-house legal counsel . . . The letter was a formality to remind them,” he said.
The AG’s office declined comment, but investigators know of the letter, said a source close to the probe of the $15 million Bronx nonprofit.
Photo of the Week: Happy Thanksgiving
November 27, 2009 4:05pm | Jessica G. | Photo of the Week
Love, New York
Photo by Leomage, courtesty of Flickr
Step Up, Legislators
November 27, 2009 2:43pm | Emmy | For Your Reading
We’re thankful for many things here at MYD this year, but the non-functional state legislature isn’t one of them:
For all his lousy poll numbers, Gov. Paterson has actually been a lone steady voice of vigilance, reason and concern about the state’s budget crisis from the second he took office in March 2007. And he hasn’t just been complaining. He’s been offering reasonable solutions for the Legislature to consider.
He’s called for a state spending cap. He’s called for across-the-board cuts in departmental spending. He’s called for the creation of a new pension system tier to lower state expenses. He’s proposed ending unfunded mandates. He’s made it easier for local governments to consolidate and share services. He’s called for mid-year budget cuts to schools. He’s threatened powerful state unions with massive layoffs if they don’t make concessions. He’s laid off workers in the executive branch. His deficit reduction plan has included significant cuts to education and health care, two areas protected by powerful special interests.
Say what you want about Gov. Paterson. Make all the jokes you want. The guy is right about the budget crisis. He’s been right all along. And he’s the only one who seems to care about finding a solution.
State Senators, in particular, should be ashamed of themselves as they utterly fail to meet their obligations as legislators not only on the budget crisis but also marriage equality:
But negotiations have been fundamentally stalled — and even irrational at times. Senate Democrats, who have thus far refused to hold a vote to legalize same-sex marriage, have nonetheless floated the theory in negotiations that the state could expect to take in more than $50 million a year in new revenue from the legalization of same-sex marriage, from a combination of marriage license and tourism revenue.
Governor Gets It, Legislators Don’t
MaliciousWare!
November 24, 2009 7:20pm | Chas | For Your Reading
Looks like some evil internet force has opposed gomyd.com the same way Republicans oppose, well, everything.
We’re figuring it out and hope to be back to normal soon. In the meantime, don’t buy any Viagra or a Mulholland Park Estate from any other source!
An Open Letter to Governor Paterson
November 21, 2009 1:12pm | Heather | For Your Reading, MYD Itself
Dear Governor David Paterson,
The Manhattan Young Democrats and our Committee on Community and Social Equity (CASE) respectfully request that the Office of New York State Governor David Paterson intervene immediately to prevent the administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg from implementing rules requiring shelter residents to pay rent.
The Bloomberg administration decided to implement this policy, established under Governor George Pataki, during his previous administration. As a result of a public outcry, these rules were temporarily suspended shortly after they were put into effect.
However, now that the Mayoral election is over, we expect them to be re-imposed imminently. If nothing is done to stop him, New York City will begin to charge shelter residents rent and will require their adherence to multiple rules and regulations – under the threat of 30 day removal from the shelter with the likely consequence of children being removed to foster care.
Legislation to reverse these draconian measures has been introduced and passed in the State Assembly and may be introduced in the State Senate as early as this week. We, the Manhattan Young Democrats, strongly suggest that your Office take immediate action to ensure the passage of this legislation in the State Senate.
As a group, the Manhattan Young Democrats have been disgusted with the inefficiency of the State Senate and the generally abhorrent behavior which has been exhibited by some of its members. As an all-volunteer organization of young professionals who represent the future of our City, the Manhattan Young Democrats cannot tolerate the disgrace that our City, our State, and our Party should feel if this policy is permitted.
These measures are punitive and illogical, and the absurd timing of this policy is clear. Homelessness in New York City is widely expected to continue rising as unemployment deepens. Foreclosures, and the inability of renters to pay due to job losses, are strong predictors of a surge in the homeless population. Goldman Sachs has suggested that unemployment will stabilize at 10% in 2010. Worse, The Fiscal Policy institute recently released a study which states that real unemployment in New York City is close to 20%. This is due to the mis-classification of workers as independent contractors and job losses in the shadow economy – both of which contribute to the prevalence of citizens not being counted in the unemployment numbers because they are not eligible to file for Unemployment Insurance.
This lack of eligibility affects working families. Many already live below the poverty line and are at extreme risk of homelessness if one income is lost. These families cannot afford to pay rent in a homeless shelter.
When a reported 15,500 children sleep in New York City homeless shelters each night, this policy cannot be the answer. The removal of children to foster care has a negative affect on family and neighborhood safety and stability. Multiple studies have proven that children who are removed to foster care do not perform well in school and are at greater risk of falling behind or dropping out – increasing the likelihood that these children will end up homeless as adults. A policy that deliberately destabilizes families by encouraging their separation due to homelessness is not only unjust, it adds to the problem.
We ask the Office of the Governor of New York State to intervene immediately to prevent the implementation of this harmful measure. Please tell Mayor Bloomberg and the State Senate that we will not accept punitive and draconian policy. At a time when the citizens of our great City are struggling, it is unethical and an unwise to impose rules which will certainly divide families and leave more people on the street.
Sincerely,
The Manhattan Young Democrats
The Manhattan Young Democrats Committee on Community and Social Equity
Join our CASE Committee here.
Photo of the Week: Elvis, Obama & Washington
November 20, 2009 11:36am | Jessica G. | Only in NY, Photo of the Week
Why not? Just your typical New York City cabbie sprucing up his dash on the Van Wyck expressway in Queens.
Image elegantly captured by Joseph O. Holmes of www.joesnyc.streetnine.com. Joe and other great New York photographers will be exhibited tonight! at The Jen Bekman Gallery’s Mixtape show in Soho.
Non Sequitor: I’m Hurt
November 18, 2009 6:41pm | Emmy | Non Sequitor
Fantastic:
Tonight! Celebrate the Democratic Women in Your Life!
November 18, 2009 4:48pm | Taylor | Uncategorized
Please join the New York State Young Democrats Women’s Caucus
for a celebration tonight in New York City!
6:00 – 9:00pm
The Public House (140 East 41st Street)
Not just another excuse to party, the NYSYD Women’s Caucus is raising money to support women who are running for office in the 2010 election cycle.
Support them tonight, and they’ll hit the ground running tomorrow!
Tickets just $25 for Young Dems!
Click HERE for the Facebook event page.
We’ll see you there!
Quote o’ the Day: Merely Physics
Asked to predict what sort of working relationship he’d have with Michael Bloomberg over the next four years, the incoming city comptroller John Liu talked about physics.
“An electromagnetic force,” he said, “it’s unlike gravity. Gravitational force is only one direction, it’s an attractive force. Electromagnetic forces can be attractive or repulsive.”
Observer: John Liu Says It’s All Business
