A Nine Member "Fair Elections" Commission tasked with designing a Statewide Public Matching Fund system for Political Campaigns will be convened by July 5th, 2019, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's Office has confirmed.
Language in the 2019-2020 State Budget created a Panel of Experts, to be Appointed by the Governor and Leaders of the Senate and Assembly, to Outline by Dec. 1st the Parameters of a Public Financing Program for All Legislative and Statewide Elections, with an estimated cost of $100 Million a year.
In addition to considering the Contours of a Public Financing system, the Panel can also shape Election Law, such as whether to continue Fusion Voting, a key concern for the Working Families Party.
New York City has a Matching Fund system since 1989.
Now that the Legislative Session has concluded, "We are hoping to make an announcement sometime this week," Cuomo Spokesman Richard Azzopardi said.
Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea-Stewart Cousins (D-35th District) and Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie (D-83rd District) will each Appoint Two Members, while Leaders of the Minority Republican Conferences, Senator John J. Flanagan (R-2nd District) and Assembly Brian M. Kolb (R-131st District), will each select One Commissioner.
Since Republicans Oppose the use of Public Funds to aid Political Campaigns, and the Assembly Leadership has expressed Reservations about a Public Financing system, Advocates speculate the outcome of the Panel may hinge on a Ninth Appointee, jointly selected by Cuomo, Heastie, and Stewart-Cousins.
"We hope to see soon a diverse group of pro-reform experts seated so they can begin crafting the model for the nation campaign finance law that voters have been promised," said Dave Palmer, Campaign Manager for the Fair Elections NY Coalition.
The Original Fair Elections Act, a final sticking point during March Budget Discussions, would have created a 6-t0-1 Public Matching system for Small Donations to Candidates for State Office. The Measure is intended to Counteract the Influence of Big Money on the State's Electoral system. Instead, the Final Spending Plan created a Panel with Few Parameters. The Commission's Recommendations will be Binding unless the Legislature moves to Reject them within 20 days.
Advocates want the Legislature to introduce Bills Amending the Law in preparation for the 20-day window in December, in Case the Commission's Recommendations fall short.
Despite an unusually Productive Session, which in some instances saw the Voices of Grassroots Activists elevated over Deep-Pocketed Interests, the playing field is far from Leveled, according to the Government Reform Group Reinvent Albany. The Group, which in May pointed out the Lack of Fundraising from Constituents among Top Assembly Democrats, has Released an Analysis pointing to a similar Trend in the Upper Chamber.
In both Houses, most Legislators with Leadership Titles have derived the Magnitude of their Fundraising from Special Interests and Companies with Business before the State, rather than Individuals in their Districts, according to Reinvent Albany's Breakdown of Data from the 2017-2018 Election Cycle.
"We still leave this legislative session with a campaign finance system in place that looks a lot like the old Albany: with big money still playing an outsized role in our political process," Reinvent Albany's Alex Camarda said.
In the Senate, In-District Individual Donations accounted for 23% of Contributions to Top Democrats. In the Assembly, the Ratio was more lopsided, with just 16% of Donations made during the Last Election Cycle from Constituents.
Update
The Future of the New York’s Campaign Finance Laws will be in the hands of Nine People, including the State Democratic Committee Chairman, a Top Former Attorney for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Bronx Civil Court Judge, and a longtime Election Law Lawyer.
The Commission includes:
Appointees of the Governor - State Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs as well as Mylan Denerstein, an Attorney in Private Practice who served as Counsel to Cuomo during his First time and worked in the Attorney Genera’s office during his time there.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins - Appointed DeNora Getachew, the Executive Director of the Group Generation Citizen and a Former Legislative Counsel and Campaign Manager for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. She also appointed John Nonna, a longtime Westchester County Attorney and Former County Lawmaker and Mayor.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie - Appointed Bronx County Civil Court Judge Rosanna Vargas and Buffalo State College Official Crystal Rodriguez.
Cuomo, Heastie, and Stewart-Cousins - In a joint At-Large Appointment, Henry Berger, an Election Law Attorney who worked for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as Special Counsel.
Republican Senate leader John Flanagan - Appointed David Previte, a Former Chief Counsel for their Conference and an Attorney with Hinman Straub.
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb - Appointed Kimberly Galvin, the Co-Director of the State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Compliance Unit.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
