Public Campaign Financing

Senate Standing Committee on Elections
Chair:    Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
Public Hearing:    Public Campaign Financing
Time:    9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Contact:    Bernadette Oliver (518) 455-23120

Media Contact:    Michelle Friedman (212) 298-554

NEW YORK STATE SENATE 

Notice of Public Hearing 

New York State Senate Standing Committee on Elections 

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 

Chair

1. Senator Martin Malave Dilan             Senator Thomas W. Libous                 
2. Senator Jose M. Serrano                    Senator Joseph A. Griffo                     
3. Senator Brian X. Foley                      Senator Thomas P. Morahan 

SUBJECT: Proposals for campaign finance reform, including the public financing of election campaigns.

April 20, 2010
9 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Legislative Office Building
Hearing Room A
Albany, NY 12247
 
April 23, 2010
10 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Senate Hearing Room
19th Floor
250 Broadway
New York, NY 10007

The purpose of the hearings in Albany on April 20, and New York City on April 23, is to address the financing of election campaigns and seek public comment on the following bills:

• TBD Public Campaign Financing, provides matching funds, reduces campaign contribution limits, prohibits personal use of campaign funds, and limits candidates to one official committee.

•  S743A Restricts the use of campaign funds to campaign and office holding expenses, prohibits the personal use of campaign funds, and provides for their disposition after death.

• S900 Provides for additional transferor and contributor identification information.

• S3965 Provides for the disclosure of intermediaries in campaign receipt reports.

• S3980 Requires that corporate contributors disclose any majority shareholder parent corporation, and any group of shareholders that holds a majority of the shares of either corporation.

• S4545 Decreases the annual aggregate contribution limit.

• S5277 Provides that limited liability companies must attribute contributions over $2,500.00 to the company members.

• S5282B Establishes new contribution limits, expands the types of organizations prohibited from making contributions and aggregates certain contributions.

• S5546  Increases the transparency of candidate fundraising and expenditures by limiting candidates to one authorized committee.

• S7083 Requires annual shareholder approval of a budget for political expenditures, and an annual accounting of the expenditures and their business purpose.

• S7478 Prohibits corporations and other entities seeking or renewing government contracts from making direct and indirect political expenditures.

• S7479  Requires that all corporate and other independent advertising for or against a candidate in New York State must clearly state its source, including disclosures by trade and other associations of sponsorship by their three largest contributors.

The goal of these public hearings is to seek comment about how the financing of our election campaigns is functioning and ways in which it can be improved.  During the 2009 legislative session, we held hearings focusing on the issues of voter registration, voting/casting a ballot and poll sites, as well as campaign finance reform.  In the Fall, the hearings focused on new voting systems, ballot access, deceptive practices, voter intimidation and ways in which the expense of run-off primary elections may be reduced.

This dialogue between lawmakers and the public is part of the Senate’s commitment to beginning a robust committee process, and the development of sound public policy through open dialogue and an overall transparent legislative procedure. 

Persons who wish to testify should so indicate on the reply form. The Elections Committee will accommodate as many witnesses as possible. The Committee also encourages the submission of written testimony; which will be considered by the Committee and made part of its record. Written testimony may be e-mailed as an attachment in any common format to the Elections Committee to Bernadette Oliver at oliver@senate.state.ny.us, or by fax to 518-426-6875.

Persons wishing to attend or testify at this hearing should complete and return the reply form as soon as possible, but no later than April 16 for the hearing in Albany, or April 20 for the hearing in New York City. It is important the form be fully completed and returned so persons may be notified in the event of postponement or cancellation of the hearing. Witnesses are asked to keep oral testimony to no more than five minutes in length. If you are testifying, please submit 10 copies of the prepared statement for the Committee and bring additional copies for the public and media. 

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the New York State Senate has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. Accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate facilities and activities. 

Questions about this hearing may be directed to: oliver@senate.state.ny.us.