Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Comptroller Campaign Finance Reform Act Passes Assembly

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's proposed bill to create a voluntary system of public financing of elections for the state comptroller's race, made it over a major hurdle today as it passed the Assembly. The Brennan Center sent this memorandum of support of the bill to Assemblymembers last week.

As we wrote when the bill was first introduced, this is a major step forward for public financing of elections in New York State. Modeled off of New York City’s small donor matching funds system, the bill would create a public financing fund that will match the first $250 raised from New York State residents on a $6-to-$1 ratio. Given the recent corruption scandals involving Alan Hevesi, it is appropriate that campaign finance reform begin with the comptroller’s office. Ultimately, we hope this program would be extended to New York’s other statewide and legislative elections as part of a comprehensive campaign finance reform.

We urge the Senate to act promptly on this bill and send it to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

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