[...]One would like to think that the court will eventually admit the folly of its 2010 ruling and reverse it. But we can’t wait that long. And out of this dreary landscape, hope is blossoming in the state of New York. There’s irony here, since New York is where a lot of the big national money is coming from. No matter. The state is considering a campaign finance law that would repair some of the Citizens United damage, and in a way the Supreme Court wouldn’t be able to touch.

The idea is that to offset the power of large donors, citizens without deep pockets should be encouraged to flood the system with small contributions that the government would match. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has pledged to a state overhaul of this sort, based on the one already in force for New York City elections. In his state of the state address in January, Cuomo spoke of how urgent it is to “reconnect the people to the political process and their government.” He could make himself into a reform hero across the country if he and the Legislature created a model law for other states, and the nation.

The New York City program is straightforward: The government gives participating candidates $6 in matching funds for every dollar raised from individuals who live in the city, up to the first $175. At a maximum, this means a $175 contribution is augmented by $1,050 in public funds. That’s a mighty incentive for politicians to involve more citizens in paying for campaigns. In the city system, participating candidates have to live within certain spending and contribution limits. In a new statewide system, there are likely to be no spending restrictions but lower limits on contributions.

[...]

Full article

The organizations include: Americans for Campaign Finance Reform, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington,
Common Cause, Democracy 21, Demos, the League of Women Voters, People For the American Way, Public Campaign, Public Citizen and the Sunlight Foundation.

It is a cardinal principle of campaign finance laws that citizens have a basic right to know about the expenditures being made to influence their votes and the donors funding these expenditures.

In the wake of the Citizens United decision, however, more than $135 million in secret contributions were spent to influence the 2010 congressional races. This amount of secret money is expected to greatly increase in the 2012 national elections, absent new disclosure provisions.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly supported the constitutionality and importance of campaign finance disclosure laws. In Citizens United, the Court by an 8 to 1 vote upheld such disclosure laws for outside spending groups stating:

The First Amendment protects political speech; and disclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way. This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.

The Citizens United decision, however, combined with ineffective FEC disclosure regulations to open gaping loopholes in the campaign finance disclosure laws.

The DISCLOSE Act closes these loopholes with effective new disclosure requirements.

Unlike the DISCLOSE Act considered in 2010, the legislation introduced today focuses solely on disclosure provisions. The bill also does not contain any special exceptions for any group. The legislation also fixes the problem of untimely disclosure of donors to Super PACs that surfaced during the 2012 presidential primaries.

Polls show overwhelming public support for disclosure by outside spending groups.

There is no legitimate policy or constitutional grounds on which to oppose the DISCLOSE Act. We strongly urge Senators to support the new DISCLOSE Act and to take all necessary steps to promptly enact the legislation.

The people of Maine blazed a trail over ten years ago when they voted to establish a new way to elect their political leaders through the Clean Elections System.  In the elections since, both Republicans and Democrats have embraced this approach to politics, as 80% of all Maine legislators have been elected by using the program and over 75% of the state’s voters approve of it.  As a former U.S. Senator and co-chair of Americans for Campaign Reform, I applaud the people of Maine and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections for leading the effort to defend this important and proven program that puts voters in the driver’s seat of democracy.

I strongly support a small donor driven campaign finance reform for Congress and the presidency, an approach that expands speech and respects the first amendment by allowing more voices to be heard in our political process.   Maine has led the way, providing an alternative to the obscene money chase that occupies countless hours and distracts candidates and legislators from the jobs they were elected to do.

Some political leaders in Maine cite the current financial difficulties that state government is facing as reason enough to reduce or even eliminate the funding for the program.  This is so shortsighted.   Unlike in most other states, lawmakers in Maine are not dependent upon lobbyists for campaign contributions.   As a result, it provides qualified people from all walks of life to serve in the legislature without the usual ties to special interests, and allows more opportunity for issues to be considered on the merits – not with a perceived or real quid pro quo.  For about $2 per person per year, Maine voters can be confident that candidates and elected officials answer to them, not wealthy donors and special interests.  The Maine Clean Elections System puts citizens first, an investment in democracy that surely has paid dividends in responsive government.

Maine citizens of all political views have a shared interest in a government that is accountable, effective, transparent, and truly representative.   The Clean Elections system is important not only because it has increased confidence in the operation of government in Maine, but stands as an inspiration to the nation.  In this era of undisclosed campaign contributions and the undue influence of wealthy donors over our political process, successful alternatives that empower voters should be celebrated and strengthened, not challenged.  The Maine Clean Elections system works.

Former US Senator Al Simpson (R-WY) is a co-chair of Americans for Campaign Reform

“The unfortunate reality of modern American politics is that financing a campaign for office has become a growing barrier that prevents non-wealthy Americans from becoming a candidate for State and Federal office,” said Senator Kerrey. “And for those who succeed in raising the money there is at best the perception and at worse the reality of corruption of the local and national agendas. The consequence is that voters are increasingly distrustful of the intentions of candidates and left with the feeling that they have no influence. At the moment there is little hope that Congress will enact a Federal law that provides a voluntary system of public financing. In New York – thanks to the leadership of Governor Cuomo – it could happen. By doing so New York would give power back to small donors in State campaigns and set an example for the U.S. Congress.”

In addition to adding new members, NY LEAD also received congratulations from former Wisconsin Senator and Founder and President of Progressives United Russ Feingold.

“Progressives United congratulates NYLEAD for supporting New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s public financing proposal for campaigns,” said Feingold. “Those who are in business know, perhaps better than anyone else, the corrupting impact of the nearly endless fundraising calls from candidates that has produced a system which features elements that border on both the official extortion by government and the legalized bribery of our elected representatives. The overwhelming majority of businesses want no part of it. That’s why the leadership of the members of NYLEAD is so welcome as New York strives to fundamentally reform such a corrupt system, and return their elections to the voters.”

NY LEAD – a bipartisan group of business, civic, and philanthropic leaders – has endorsed Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call for campaign finance reform and is calling for a system of public financing for New York State elections as the centerpiece of that overhaul.

NY LEAD is calling for the Legislature to pass a bill that will include:

• A voluntary “multiple match” public financing system – modeled on New York City’s successful program – that will encourage candidates to fund their campaigns through a broad base of small donors;
• Lower contribution limits and closed contribution loopholes;
• Even lower contribution limits for corporations and individuals who do business in New York, and;
• A new enforcement unit in the State Board of Elections with the independence and authority to investigate alleged violations.

NY LEAD brings together voices to reform efforts from all corners of the state. A full list of membership can be found here. NY LEAD has launched a full social media campaign to compliment grassroots efforts in New York. Outreach includes a new website (nylead.org), Twitter handle @NY_LEAD and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkLead.

Petition text:

We petition the Obama administration to:
Nominate New Commissioners to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

We expect candidates for federal office to follow our campaign finance laws, but the FEC – the agency charged with enforcing those laws – is completely dysfunctional.

Three of the six commissioners staunchly refuse to enforce the law and five of the six are serving despite expired terms.

Prior to your election, you professed support for campaign finance reform. We agree with you that the Citizens United Supreme Court decision was disastrous and the failure of Congress to require disclosure of campaign-related spending was outrageous. Nevertheless, you have failed to appoint new commissioners who actually would enforce such laws.

To restore some faith into the democratic process, we urge you to nominate new commissioners to the FEC prior to the 2012 elections.

See the petition here.

A new poll released this week by Americans for Campaign Reform and the Committee for Economic Development shows deep frustration among likely New Hampshire Primary voters over the increasing influence of special interest money on the federal government. The poll, fielded by The University of New Hampshire Survey Center between September 26 and October 4, shows that 57% of likely New Hampshire Primary voters said they are “not confident at all” that the president and Congress can work together.
Almost 8 in 10 likely GOP Primary voters think members of Congress are more interested in serving special interest groups than the people they represent and more than half acknowledge that political contributions influence what the federal government does.

About two thirds (61%) of likely NH Republican Primary voters “strongly disagree” with the Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case asserting that political spending by corporations and unions is a form of free speech protected under the First Amendment. This 2010 decision allows corporations, unions, and non-profit groups to spend unlimited money for election purposes and political advertising without disclosing the source of their funding. What’s more, 73% of likely New Hampshire GOP Primary voters would “strongly support” a law that would require corporations, unions and non-profits to disclose their sources of spending when they participate in elections. And seventy percent would be more likely to support candidates who would support such a law.

When asked about other reforms, almost half (40%) of likely New Hampshire Republican Primary voters said they would support a proposal for public funding of all federal elections that would allow candidates who collect a large number of small contributions (up to a maximum of $100) from their home state to receive public matching funds on a five-to-one basis to run their campaigns. By a two-to-one margin (45% to 21%), likely New Hampshire Republican Primary voters said they would be more likely to support a candidate who supported a public funding system.

“This new poll reinforces CED’s belief that we continue to need comprehensive campaign finance reform. Our business leaders have worked for more than a decade to lessen the impact of money in politics. Respondents in this poll recognize that the Citizen’s United decision was a step backwards in the effort to reform the system. In this election cycle, we are saying to business people, ‘don’t contribute, but if you do contribute – disclose,’” said CED President Charles Kolb.

According to John Rauh, founder and President of Americans for Campaign Reform, ”With the Primary only a couple of months away, it’s startling to see the depth of concern that voters who are likely to turn out for the New Hampshire Republican Primary have over the influence of special interest money. It’s reassuring, though, to see how receptive these voters are to major reform that will give average voters a greater say in what goes on in Washington.” More information on the poll can be found here.

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Americans for Campaign Reform (ACR) is a non-profit bipartisan organization dedicated to enacting public funding of federal elections. ACR Is chaired by former Senators Bill Bradley (D-NJ), Bob Kerrey (D-NE), Warren Rudman (R-NH), and Al Simpson (R-WY). Information can be found at www.ACRreform.org
CED is a non-profit, non-partisan business led public policy organization. CED is dedicated to policy research on major economic and social issues and the implementation of its recommendations by the public and private sectors. Membership is made up of some 200 senior corporate executives and university leaders who lead CED’s research and outreach efforts. Information can be found at www.ced.org

View Poll Results As A PDF

Orignally published in the Buffalo (NY) News

As former members of Congress, we were honored to represent the people of upstate New York in Washington, D. C., for many years. But as we look at our politics today, we are deeply troubled by the corrosive role that private money has come to play in Congress and Albany alike.

To illustrate our point and the need for fundamental reform, imagine that you are a member of the New York State Assembly. Facing re-election and the need to raise an average of $130,000 to keep your seat, you begin the unsavory task of asking lobbyists and other special interests in Albany for large donations. After a number of receptions at fancy restaurants downtown and hours spent dialing down lists of wealthy donors, you have collected the requisite $500, $1,000 and larger donations with which to run your campaign. But you did not enter politics in order to represent a wealthy few.

Now imagine that instead of the downtown fundraisers and dialing for dollars, you can raise the money you need through block parties and community dinners in the presence of friends and neighbors back home. Donations of $10, $25, $50 and $100 are matched 4-to-1 by a state voter-owned elections fund, giving you enough resources to run a viable campaign. Returning to the Assembly after the election, you feel beholden to your constituents and your conscience alone. The lobbyists whose business it is to win your vote have nothing more to offer than their ideas.

To many, this second method of funding political campaigns is all but impossible to imagine. “Albany ethics” is one of the great oxymorons of our time. But this need not be the case. For the first time in decades, the forces are arrayed so that an overhaul of the state’s campaign system has a real possibility of success.

Reform has been done before. For nearly a quarter century, New York City has run a voluntary matching funds program for the offices of mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president and City Council. The heart of the system is the 6-to-1 public match on small donations made by constituents.

The benefits of such a system are clear. A recent report by the Brennan Center for Justice found that since the enactment of the match, the number of contributors and the number of small donors has increased significantly. In competitive races, the pool of candidates has become more diverse as more candidates have sufficient resources to wage a viable campaign and give the voters a choice in who will represent them.

But campaign financing in Albany is a world away from these citizen-driven campaigns. Candidates running for Assembly or statewide office can raise up to $37,000 and $400,000, respectively, from a single family, making the voices of a wealthy few far more important than those of everyday New Yorkers. Similarly, by the time we left the U. S. Congress, less than 10 percent of the money raised to fund congressional races came in small amounts of $200 or less and a small fraction of 1 percent of eligible voters were providing the lion’s share of campaign funds. The problem has only grown worse today.

Overhauling this broken system is not only necessary but possible.Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo noted in his State of the State address that we “need public financing of campaigns” and the Assembly has passed such laws repeatedly in recent years, only to see them falter in the Senate. While a public campaign finance system will cost money — an estimated $30 million or .02 percent of the state budget — that cost pales in comparison to the billions in state contracts, tax breaks and regulatory benefits awarded to major donors every year.

Nonetheless, fiscal realities are important and several creative ways have been offered to fund this program without adding to the burden of taxpayers. These include asking attorneys, who frequently benefit from the current system, to pay a voluntary fee when renewing their bar licenses, and placing all fines paid by politicians and lobbyists who violate the state’s ethics laws into the election fund.

These and similar ideas are at work in other cities and states around the country that have long had success with voter-owned elections. We are confident that New York State would reap similar fiscal rewards to those seen in other states when special interest donors are no longer able to fund the campaigns of those who make the very tax and regulatory laws under which they do business.

Cuomo does not have to wage this fight alone. We are proud to work with a diverse group of leaders who have already stepped forward to call for real reform, including former senator Bill Bradley and former mayor Ed Koch, business executives Alan Patricof and William Donaldson, clergymen Father Joseph O’Hare and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and concerned citizens across the great state of New York. Although our politics are not the same, we are united in our commitment to the simple idea that elections should be owned by the voters, not special interests. The time for reform is now.

Former Republican Congressmen Sherwood Boehlert and Amory Houghton represented the 24th and 29th Districts, respectively, of upstate New York. They are Advisory Board members of Americans for Campaign Reform.