The New York Times has printed an editorial today that we can strongly back. The Times says "when New York State politician [sic] start asking for your vote, it’s time to ask for something in return."
Most importantly, the Times asks, will the candidate asking for your vote get behind:
*an independent redistricting commission?
*the campaign finance proposal supported by, among other groups, the Brennan Center?
*real ethics reform?
The Times also demands to know where state legislators stand on
*reform on rules governing legislative committees, including giving committee leaders control over hiring and firing of staff members and requiring a public hearing if a quarter of the committee members want one?
*the State Senate's recently passed anti-reform measure that makes it impossible for the Senate to make any legislative rules changes without the consent of the Senate Majority Leader and Senate Rule Committee?
*empty seat voting, whereby legislators don't have to be present to vote?
We couldn't have asked these questions better ourselves. The editorial notes that the Times will be asking more questions next week. We've got one:
*Will candidates support ending the stranglehold that Legislative leaders have over bills getting to the floor?
As it presently stands, a bill can be voted out of committee unanimously, and receive support from a majority of legislators and New Yorkers, but still not get to the floor for debate or a vote -- merely because leadership says so.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Who Needs A Campaign?
Ben Smith provides us with yet another example of a State Legislator who raises and spends campaign money without actually having a campaign. Lots of spending on restaurants and cell phones. As Mr. Smith notes "[n]othing legally questionable or even particularly unusual about it."
Have we mentioned our recent reports on New York's exceptionally lax campaign finance and ethics laws?
Have we mentioned our recent reports on New York's exceptionally lax campaign finance and ethics laws?
More on NY's Failed Campaign Laws
In a scathing editorial, the Poughkeepsie Journal takes New York State to task for its failed campaign finance laws. Citing the recently release Brennan Center campaign finance report, the paper notes:
New York's campaign finance laws are a mess and ineffective. And state leaders would rather blame each other for the stalemate over reforms rather than work together on remedies.
New York's campaign finance laws are a fiasco: a fig leaf that does little to hide the fact that the State has one of the worst campaign regulatory systems in the nation.
New York's campaign finance laws are a mess and ineffective. And state leaders would rather blame each other for the stalemate over reforms rather than work together on remedies.
New York's campaign finance laws are a fiasco: a fig leaf that does little to hide the fact that the State has one of the worst campaign regulatory systems in the nation.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Can Reform Become Part of the Political Season?
An article in the Journal News notes that the conversation about "reform" has cooled off significantly in Albany in the last year. It's been mentioned in the Governor's race, but only in vague terms and has taken a back seat to tax issues.
As Election Day nears, will reforming Albany once again take center stage? It may be too early to tell:
Legislative races are just hitting high season, so it remains to be seen if reform is a top issue.
We'll have to do everything we can to make sure candidates don't give this issue short shrift.
As Election Day nears, will reforming Albany once again take center stage? It may be too early to tell:
Legislative races are just hitting high season, so it remains to be seen if reform is a top issue.
We'll have to do everything we can to make sure candidates don't give this issue short shrift.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
The Flimsy Façade of Campaign Finance Laws in New York
Followers of New York politics may not be surprised to hear that the state's campaign finance laws are porous and under-enforced. They may be surprised, however, to learn just how serious both of these problems are. A new report from the Brennan Center documents the sorry state of campaign finance regulation in New York, and suggests how to fix it.
From the press release:
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
From the press release:
Today the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law released Paper Thin: The Flimsy Facade of Campaign Finance Laws in New York. The report documents flaws in New York's campaign finance law and enforcement regime that render New York's already high contribution limits functionally meaningless.As they like to say in the blogosphere, read the whole thing!
"Some states admit they don't have reasonable campaign finance reform laws. New York pretends to address the influence of money in politics, but in reality its regulatory system is among the worst in the nation," stated Michael Waldman, Executive Director of the Brennan Center.
The report finds that New York's contribution limits, which climb as high as $84,400, are the highest in the country for many categories of contributions. In fact, in some categories, New York's contribution limits would still rank among the nation's highest even if they were cut in half. The consequences of such laws can be seen in practice. According to Common Cause/NY, fifty-five percent of New York State campaign funds received by candidates during the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election cycles have come via checks written for more than $2,100.
"To make matters worse, loopholes in New York's campaign finance laws render even our extraordinarily high contribution limits meaningless," stated Suzanne Novak, Deputy Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center and the lead author of the report.
. . . .
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
Will the Real Albany Reformer Please Stand Up?
The big New York government news from yesterday was the debate between Democratic gubernatorial candidates Eliot Spitzer and Thomas R. Suozzi. This was the sole debate to which the frontrunner Spitzer has agreed.
The early consensus seems to be that Spitzer emerged relatively unscathed. But Suozzi scored some points by sounding one of this blog's favorite themes: the dysfunction of New York State politics.
"New York State government is dysfunctional -- both parties are rotten to the core," Suozzi inveighed in his opening remarks. "If New York State was a Wall Street firm, Mr. Spitzer would have indicted it already," Suozzi continued. "But the reality is that in the past 7-1/2 years, he has not taken on the state government."
Suozzi later charged Spitzer with "never really focus[ing] on government reform," even though "[i]t's government that's hurting us." Spitzer is "embraced by all the politicians, all the insiders, and all the lobbyists who have given us this broken system." "If I'm elected governor of New York State, it will send the clearest message to every single politician in this state that business as usual is over," Suozzi added.
Spitzer also alluded to the need for reform, championing his record as a crusading attorney general and promising to "fundamentally change government so that it reflects a moral vision that we all share."
Talk of reforming New York State government was kept vague, as is perhaps to be expected from a televised debate. And in the scheme of Spitzer's much-touted run for Governor -- he has raised more than five times as much money as Suozzi and held a 69-point lead in the latest poll -- the event may be of little lasting significance. Let's hope, however, that Albany's dysfunctional culture remains in the spotlight during this campaign and the general election. The Governor is, after all, one of the "three men in a room" who exert oligarchic control over New York State politics. It will take a committed effort from the new Governor, whoever it is, to fundamentally change the system.
Round-up of debate coverage:
New York Times: "Sole Debate for Spitzer and Suozzi Is Fiery" and "In an Exchange of Zingers, the Truth Can Take a Hit"
Newsday: "Suozzi v. Spitzer: A Debate Volley"
New York Post: "Spitzer and Suozzi Come Out Swinging"
New York Daily News: "Suozzi Fails To Land KO"
Albany Times Union: "Spitzer, Suozzi Spar in Spirited Debate"
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: "Spitzer, Suozzi Talk Reform"
Buffalo News: "Spitzer, Suozzi Claim To Be True Reformers at Debate"
Utica Observer-Dispatch: "Spitzer, Suozzi Agree: Albany Needs Reformer"
Categories: General
The early consensus seems to be that Spitzer emerged relatively unscathed. But Suozzi scored some points by sounding one of this blog's favorite themes: the dysfunction of New York State politics.
"New York State government is dysfunctional -- both parties are rotten to the core," Suozzi inveighed in his opening remarks. "If New York State was a Wall Street firm, Mr. Spitzer would have indicted it already," Suozzi continued. "But the reality is that in the past 7-1/2 years, he has not taken on the state government."
Suozzi later charged Spitzer with "never really focus[ing] on government reform," even though "[i]t's government that's hurting us." Spitzer is "embraced by all the politicians, all the insiders, and all the lobbyists who have given us this broken system." "If I'm elected governor of New York State, it will send the clearest message to every single politician in this state that business as usual is over," Suozzi added.
Spitzer also alluded to the need for reform, championing his record as a crusading attorney general and promising to "fundamentally change government so that it reflects a moral vision that we all share."
Talk of reforming New York State government was kept vague, as is perhaps to be expected from a televised debate. And in the scheme of Spitzer's much-touted run for Governor -- he has raised more than five times as much money as Suozzi and held a 69-point lead in the latest poll -- the event may be of little lasting significance. Let's hope, however, that Albany's dysfunctional culture remains in the spotlight during this campaign and the general election. The Governor is, after all, one of the "three men in a room" who exert oligarchic control over New York State politics. It will take a committed effort from the new Governor, whoever it is, to fundamentally change the system.
Round-up of debate coverage:
New York Times: "Sole Debate for Spitzer and Suozzi Is Fiery" and "In an Exchange of Zingers, the Truth Can Take a Hit"
Newsday: "Suozzi v. Spitzer: A Debate Volley"
New York Post: "Spitzer and Suozzi Come Out Swinging"
New York Daily News: "Suozzi Fails To Land KO"
Albany Times Union: "Spitzer, Suozzi Spar in Spirited Debate"
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: "Spitzer, Suozzi Talk Reform"
Buffalo News: "Spitzer, Suozzi Claim To Be True Reformers at Debate"
Utica Observer-Dispatch: "Spitzer, Suozzi Agree: Albany Needs Reformer"
Categories: General
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
There oughta be a law against that
The Buffalo News opines that New York's rules about what "candidates" can do with unused campaign funds is, well, pathetic. And wrong.
As currently written the state law - known as one of the most lax in the nation - says ... [a] candidate's unused money can go to other candidates. On the surface, that seems to make sense. At least the candidate doesn't get to pocket it. But here's the rub: The money is often ... leveraged to buy favors. Past office holders and candidates retain power and influence... [T]his is not only legal, it's commonplace. More importantly, it's just another example of putting what's good for politicians ahead of what's good for citizens.
The Buffalo News points to Anthony M Massielo, registered lobbyist and prominent Democrat with "campaign" funds left over after he decided not to mount another campaign for mayor. He recently contributed $45,000 in unused "campaign" funds to Elliot Spitzer's campaign for Governor. As the News points out, "[t]hat's a chunk of change injected into the election effort of a potential administration whose many divisions could find work for Masiello's fledgling firm."
But as the News also points out, Masiello's case is nothing special. This is par for the course in New York State politics. It merely "highlights the incestuous relationships among politicians, office holders and lobbyists."
The editorial leaves us with this disturbing thought:
Some people wonder why people get into politics? In increasing numbers, it's to leave with a six-figure slush fund to dole out from a lobbying office. It's an exclusive power club where the members write bad rules.
Indeed. Why should any legislator be motivated to change New York's lax ethics rules when he or she may benefit from them down the road?
Categories: General, Campaign Finance, Ethics
As currently written the state law - known as one of the most lax in the nation - says ... [a] candidate's unused money can go to other candidates. On the surface, that seems to make sense. At least the candidate doesn't get to pocket it. But here's the rub: The money is often ... leveraged to buy favors. Past office holders and candidates retain power and influence... [T]his is not only legal, it's commonplace. More importantly, it's just another example of putting what's good for politicians ahead of what's good for citizens.
The Buffalo News points to Anthony M Massielo, registered lobbyist and prominent Democrat with "campaign" funds left over after he decided not to mount another campaign for mayor. He recently contributed $45,000 in unused "campaign" funds to Elliot Spitzer's campaign for Governor. As the News points out, "[t]hat's a chunk of change injected into the election effort of a potential administration whose many divisions could find work for Masiello's fledgling firm."
But as the News also points out, Masiello's case is nothing special. This is par for the course in New York State politics. It merely "highlights the incestuous relationships among politicians, office holders and lobbyists."
The editorial leaves us with this disturbing thought:
Some people wonder why people get into politics? In increasing numbers, it's to leave with a six-figure slush fund to dole out from a lobbying office. It's an exclusive power club where the members write bad rules.
Indeed. Why should any legislator be motivated to change New York's lax ethics rules when he or she may benefit from them down the road?
Categories: General, Campaign Finance, Ethics
Monday, July 24, 2006
Big Budget
Also in the Opinion section of yesterday's Times, some startling numbers relating to the budget. According to the Times, spending increased by $10.1 billion. The Times notes that at its current rate "the state’s debt could increase to nearly $65 billion, or more than a third of the projected state budget, in five years."
Where is all that money going? Well, no one place of course. But we couldn't help but notice this item:
...legislators and Mr. Pataki made a big splash last month when they announced that a computer chip factory would be built in Saratoga County. The project will cost the state between $1.2 billion to over $3 billion in various tax breaks, loan guarantees and other subsidies.
According to one estimate, each new job will cost a whopping $1 million. But here’s the clincher: The chip fab, as the factory is called, will be located in the district of the Senate majority leader, Joseph Bruno, one of the three most powerful men in New York State government.
In case you were concerned, the power of the "big three" (Pataki, Silver and Bruno) appears as strong as ever.
Categories: General
Where is all that money going? Well, no one place of course. But we couldn't help but notice this item:
...legislators and Mr. Pataki made a big splash last month when they announced that a computer chip factory would be built in Saratoga County. The project will cost the state between $1.2 billion to over $3 billion in various tax breaks, loan guarantees and other subsidies.
According to one estimate, each new job will cost a whopping $1 million. But here’s the clincher: The chip fab, as the factory is called, will be located in the district of the Senate majority leader, Joseph Bruno, one of the three most powerful men in New York State government.
In case you were concerned, the power of the "big three" (Pataki, Silver and Bruno) appears as strong as ever.
Categories: General
Reforming Programs for the Mentally Ill
In an op-ed piece in yesterday's New York Times, Jay Neugeboren paints a grim picture of New York's mental health system in general, and the for-profit residences that the state contracts with in particular.
He argues that non-profit homes may provide the answer: offering better and cheaper care. The problem?
The state is well aware that successful nonprofit alternatives exist. What does not exist, however, is the political will in Albany to ensure that these alternative programs are financed and expanded, affording mentally ill New Yorkers decent places to live and competent, caring staff to help them lead happier, more productive lives.
Sounds like an all too familliar lament to us.
Categories: General
He argues that non-profit homes may provide the answer: offering better and cheaper care. The problem?
The state is well aware that successful nonprofit alternatives exist. What does not exist, however, is the political will in Albany to ensure that these alternative programs are financed and expanded, affording mentally ill New Yorkers decent places to live and competent, caring staff to help them lead happier, more productive lives.
Sounds like an all too familliar lament to us.
Categories: General
Friday, July 21, 2006
Taking Sides
The Times reports on an interesting decision out of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in Albany yesterday. The court decided that political parties are allowed to spend money to directly influence primaries in other parties' primaries.
Election lawyers said that the ruling opens the door to major and minor parties much more actively taking sides in one another’s primaries, and even to the Republican and Democratic parties trying to influence each other’s contests.
Categories: General
Election lawyers said that the ruling opens the door to major and minor parties much more actively taking sides in one another’s primaries, and even to the Republican and Democratic parties trying to influence each other’s contests.
Categories: General
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Pataki's Fishy Feast
The Daily News reports that Governor Pataki
treated a dozen New Hampshire GOP activists to a taxpayer-funded salmon dinner at the Executive Mansion last month - even as lawmakers scrambled late into the night to wrap up the legislative session.
Pataki claims the dinner was completely unrelated to any White House aspirations.
Categories: General, Government Ethics
treated a dozen New Hampshire GOP activists to a taxpayer-funded salmon dinner at the Executive Mansion last month - even as lawmakers scrambled late into the night to wrap up the legislative session.
Pataki claims the dinner was completely unrelated to any White House aspirations.
Categories: General, Government Ethics
Pataki Veto
The Democrat and Chronicle reports that Pataki is going to veto a bill that lawmakers had dubbed "budget reform."
The Democrat and Chronicle gives our friend Blair Horner at NYPIRG the last word in analysis on this issue:
Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group said Monday he figured Pataki would veto the measure. The Legislature's interest institutionally was to create more scrutiny of budgeting on the executive side, which is reflected in the bill. The same cannot be said for opening up the process as it applies to the Senate and Assembly, he said.
Categories: General
The Democrat and Chronicle gives our friend Blair Horner at NYPIRG the last word in analysis on this issue:
Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group said Monday he figured Pataki would veto the measure. The Legislature's interest institutionally was to create more scrutiny of budgeting on the executive side, which is reflected in the bill. The same cannot be said for opening up the process as it applies to the Senate and Assembly, he said.
Categories: General
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Where's all that money coming from?
For those interested, the Empire Zone provides the latest campaign finance filings for all of the major governor and AG candidates.
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
Reform Fizzle?
The Democrat and Chronicle has a depressing article on the state of reform in New York. The article notes that "Reform was an oft-repeated but little-legislated concept at the Capitol this year." Specifially
Good-government groups pushing for a ban on gifts and speaking fees for lawmakers, public financing of campaigns and an independent budget office for the governor and Legislature have found little to hold onto.
The reason? Assemblyman McEneny argues that "too often, the Assembly and Senate pass their own bills that the other house ignores." The obvious solution for that problem is more conference committees -- where members from each House are forced to hammer out compromises between similar bills -- as urged by the Brennan Center.
But more generally, it seems, politicians aren't feeling the pressure they did two years ago to enact real reforms. As the article notes, in 2004
A report ... had dubbed New York's government as the most dysfunctional in the country. A handful of lawmakers lost seats to opponents who ran as outsiders, and a few high-profile incumbents barely eked out wins.
Clearly, if we want more reforms, we need to get the issue back into center of the political debate in the 2006 elections.
Categories: General
Good-government groups pushing for a ban on gifts and speaking fees for lawmakers, public financing of campaigns and an independent budget office for the governor and Legislature have found little to hold onto.
The reason? Assemblyman McEneny argues that "too often, the Assembly and Senate pass their own bills that the other house ignores." The obvious solution for that problem is more conference committees -- where members from each House are forced to hammer out compromises between similar bills -- as urged by the Brennan Center.
But more generally, it seems, politicians aren't feeling the pressure they did two years ago to enact real reforms. As the article notes, in 2004
A report ... had dubbed New York's government as the most dysfunctional in the country. A handful of lawmakers lost seats to opponents who ran as outsiders, and a few high-profile incumbents barely eked out wins.
Clearly, if we want more reforms, we need to get the issue back into center of the political debate in the 2006 elections.
Categories: General
Eliot Hollywood
The Times takes a look at Eliot Spitzer's campaign filings and notes that his list of contributors could lead one to believe he was running for governor of California rather than New York. Big-buck contributors include Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Don Henley, Barbara Streisand and Ben Affleck.
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Will New York State Cut Taxes?
This editorial in the Buffalo News asks why New York can't manage to reduce its citizen's tax burden, like so many other states across the country. Giving a plug to our friends at upstateblog, the Buffalo News notes that unhappiness with the State Legislature has spread throughout the state:
For those who might want to shrug off the opinions of this page, read upstateblog.com any day. This compendium of newspaper stories, columns and editorials shows a surprising unanimity from here to Plattsburgh to Binghamton to Melville: Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats lead this state toward extinction. It's staggering how out of touch they are with what's working elsewhere.
(Unfortunately, the Buffalo News gave the wrong url for upstate blog. It's upstateblog.net)
We'd add that some folks here in New York City are rather unhappy with the legislature as well. Making the legislature more accountable to the will of the people is something we should all agree on.
Categories: General, Legislative Rules
For those who might want to shrug off the opinions of this page, read upstateblog.com any day. This compendium of newspaper stories, columns and editorials shows a surprising unanimity from here to Plattsburgh to Binghamton to Melville: Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats lead this state toward extinction. It's staggering how out of touch they are with what's working elsewhere.
(Unfortunately, the Buffalo News gave the wrong url for upstate blog. It's upstateblog.net)
We'd add that some folks here in New York City are rather unhappy with the legislature as well. Making the legislature more accountable to the will of the people is something we should all agree on.
Categories: General, Legislative Rules
Monday, July 17, 2006
That's a lot of dough!
Capitol Confidential reports that:
AG Eliot Spitzer raised $10.7 million over the past six months and has $16.3 million on hand, according to the summary sheet of his state Board of Elections filing.
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
AG Eliot Spitzer raised $10.7 million over the past six months and has $16.3 million on hand, according to the summary sheet of his state Board of Elections filing.
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
Reform from Rochester
We missed this editorial in Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle praising the new initiatives being pushed by Rochester's Citizens for Better Government in New York.
As the editorial notes, CBGNY has grown from 6 to 200 activists in a very short time, underscoring the frustration felt in the Rochester region over the state's continuing failures.
We congratulate CBGNY on its tremendous efforts and accomplishments in just two years, and we echo the closing sentiment of the Democrat and Chronicle editorial:
Finally, it can't be said enough that legislative leaders have too much power. Yes, the Albany powermongers loosened their reins slightly last year, but not nearly enough.
Categories: General, Legislative Rules
As the editorial notes, CBGNY has grown from 6 to 200 activists in a very short time, underscoring the frustration felt in the Rochester region over the state's continuing failures.
We congratulate CBGNY on its tremendous efforts and accomplishments in just two years, and we echo the closing sentiment of the Democrat and Chronicle editorial:
Finally, it can't be said enough that legislative leaders have too much power. Yes, the Albany powermongers loosened their reins slightly last year, but not nearly enough.
Categories: General, Legislative Rules
Sunday, July 16, 2006
The Year in Review
The Times provides an overview of the 229th Legislative Session's accomplishments and failures.
Categories: General
Categories: General
Saturday, July 15, 2006
New York is Awash in Cash
... or at least its politicians are. Common Cause provides us with a rundown of the latest campaign finance reports.
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
Categories: General, Campaign Finance
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