A Chance to Get Big Money out of New York Politics
Originally published in
Crain's New York Business
Bold, progressive change is afoot in Albany. The sudden spur of legislative action confirms an old political adage that seemed to elude state houses across the country for far too long: elections matter. Still, even amidst the progressive wave of 2018, wealthy special interests drastically outspent ordinary New Yorkers in our elections.
In the span of that single year, $117.6 million was given to state campaigns. Yet less than 5% of those dollars came from small donors. Half of the dollars came from entities giving more than $10,000, and the top 100 donors gave $7.5 million—more than all small donor donations combined.
To keep the current momentum in Albany, we need an electoral system that elevates the voices of people over compromised special interests and large corporations. We need to get serious about getting big money out of politics and support public financing of our elections.
This is a huge opportunity for New York. We have the opportunity to lead the nation by becoming the first state since the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform. By matching small-dollar donations with public funding—$6-to-every $1 raised—we can amplify the voices of women; of people of color; of the working and middle classes; and of all under-represented New Yorkers in the political process.
For what amounts to the cost of a cup of coffee per person per year, we can build a system that minimizes the influence of special interests and helps hold elected officials accountable to the constituents we represent.
Congressional Democrats, keeping with the grassroots energy that won them control of the House last November, recently introduced the colossal “For the People Act” (H.R.1), which includes a provision to establish a small-donor multiple match public financing system for Congress. But while Republican control of the Senate threatens its passage, the New York State legislature has the chance to deliver transformational change right now.
And with Donald Trump in the White House, we have to do everything we can to elevate the voices of people over the special interests that have outsized influence over his administration and the future of our country.
New Yorkers should no longer be forced to settle for the status quo. A political system that trades on access and influence at the expense of our democracy is not progressive. The final say in our elections should go to people, not special interests or corporations.
