Myrie Approves of Public Finance Commission Appointments
Originally published in
Kings County Politics
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park), chair of the Senate Election Committee, last week put his stamp of approval on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the legislative leaders appointments to a nine-person commission that will make binding recommendations by Dec. 1 about how to implement publicly financed elections in New York.
The commission was a compromise that was part of the 2019 budget agreement. It has the power to implement public campaign financing for legislative and statewide offices – authorizing up to $100 million annually in public funds.
“This last legislative session showed what happens when we elect candidates powered by the grassroots. The Elections Committee’s hearing on public financing hearing made it even clearer that New York is in dire need of strong campaign finance reforms that reduce the influence of special interests and magnifies the voices of everyday New Yorkers,” said Myrie.