How unfortunate for New Yorkers that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and our other so-called leaders are wasting their end-of-session efforts on such really bad ideas as expanding casino gambling and creating tax-free zones, while ignoring the real elephant in the room, official corruption.
In the past 10 years, more than 27 sitting legislators have been arrested, indicted, jailed, disgraced or forced to resign due to malfeasance, corruption, and other violations of the public trust. It is obvious that some must seek these positions in order to bilk the taxpayers, fund donors' businesses with public grants and contracts, and get kickbacks from those they benefit. This is true of members on both sides of the aisle.
Recent polling shows that 91 percent of New Yorkers believe public corruption is a serious problem. About 61 percent think public financing of election campaigns would address this pernicious and destructive trend; about equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans favor public financing.
Compare public financing's estimated cost of $2 per citizen per year to the millions of taxpayer dollars squandered annually through graft and corruption under the status quo.
How would what's known as Fair Elections help?
Those with good ideas who can raise numerous small donations from within their district would qualify for 6 to 1 matching funds, and could run for office without being beholden to big money donors, as is currently the case. It would enable our legislators to spend their time on the peoples' work, rather than dialing for dollars.
Connecticut, where public financing has existed since 2005, has found an increase in legislation aligned with public preferences and needs: an increase in the minimum wage, an earned income tax credit, mandatory paid sick time, and in-state tuition for undocumented students. There are more contested seats, candidates are more diverse, and the people participate more in their governmental processes. In 2012, 77 percent of candidates ran with public financing, and 80 percent of the winners were publicly financed.
The Fair Elections Coalition has lobbied, cajoled, demonstrated, remonstrated, and begged our elected officials to enact election reforms with public financing as a centerpiece, to no avail.
We have flooded Independent Democratic Conference members with petitions signed by constituents. We have visited our representatives in Albany and in their district offices. We have civilly protested and been arrested as we demanded that the Senate bring the issue up for a vote. More than 35,000 New Yorkers signed petitions asking Cuomo and Republican Senate leader Dean Skelos to enact Fair Elections reforms this year.
Why won't they act on this popular common sense reform that has substantially improved the system in Maine, Arizona, and Connecticut?
Why won't they listen to the people who elected them and want an end to pay-to-play politics and big money buying our policies?
Is it because they are quite happy with the status quo, with the power and money they rake in from special interests? Apparently so.
Four public financing proposals have been introduced; the Assembly has passed the Fair Election Act. We ask the governor and the Senate: Do your job. Sit down and resolve the differences among these elections reform proposals. Don't go home without enacting Fair Elections this session.
Susan Weber is a regional organizer for MoveOn and a member of the Fair Elections Coalition. She lives in Albany.