Res. No. 801
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass a bill that would create a public campaign financing system with matching funds for small contributions for candidates running for New York State public office.
By Council Members Lander, Chin, Dromm, James, Koppell, Mendez, Williams, Mark-Viverito and Rodriguez
Whereas, New York State does not currently have a public campaign financing system for candidates running for state public office; and
Whereas, In 2010 the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, holding that corporations and other groups may engage in unlimited independent spending on elections; and
Whereas, This Supreme Court decision when combined with New York State's broken campaign finance system has the potential to hinder electoral competition, and increase corruption risk by continuing to allow corporations to spend unlimited amounts to fund political advertising without a requirement that sponsors of these ads disclose the sources of their funding; and
Whereas, Public campaign financing provides candidates with resources to run competitive races, improves election transparency through more stringent disclosure requirements and reduces the risk of corruption and the appearance of corruption by decreasing the potential for undue influence from large contributors; and
Whereas, Matching funds for small contributions increases voter participation in the financing of elections by incentivizing candidates to seek smaller contributions from a larger donor base; and
Whereas, New York City has had a public campaign financing system with matching funds for small contributions since 1989, and according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, this system is very successful in increasing electoral competition and reducing corruption risk; and
Whereas, Twenty-five states already have some form of public campaign financing for state elections; and
Whereas, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for the creation of a public campaign financing system for New York State in his 2011 State of the State address, indicating that it is one of his top priorities; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass a bill that would create a public campaign financing system with matching funds for small contributions for candidates running for New York State public office.
AM
LS #2002
04/04/2011