Long Island People’s Commission to End Public Corruption Urges Moreland Commission to Recommend Campaign Finance Reform in its Dec. 1 Report
(Long Island, NY) Since the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption failed to hold a public hearing on Long Island, Island residents are holding their own People’s Commission to End Public Corruption hearing to tell the Moreland Commission it must recommend real campaign finance reform, including public matching for small donations, in its Dec. 1 report.
The Peoples Commission is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Nassau County, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, and Common Cause and is being held at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Shelter Rock in Manhasset. The hearing will be recorded and sent to the Moreland Commission.
“We have been advocating for real election reform for 15 years at least and while we are glad that the Moreland Commission is doing the work of investigating public corruption, we were upset that they decided not to come to Long Island to hear from Long Islanders. At tonight’s event it was great to hear residents of Long Island overwhelmingly call for real reform and publicly financed elections,” commented Lisa Tyson, Director of Long Island progressive Coalition.
Quotes to come from LWV, Common Cause.
The hearing will be open for testimony from the public. Long Islanders who plan to testify include the following:
Susan Schilling, from Huntington, plans to testify, “Public funding of elections is a top priority because we have watched year after year as the big money contributions drown out the voices of ordinary New Yorkers, and defeat our efforts to win public policy decisions that are in the best interests of all of us. More and more, when we reach out to people and ask them to make their voices heard, they tell us it won’t make a difference because the lawmakers will do what the wealthy special interests tell them. The influence of money is so deeply embedded in our system, that only systemic reforms will end systemic corruption and restore our democratic process and restore New Yorkers’ faith in our government.”
Barbara Lomoriello, from Huntington, plans to testify, “Public financing is a proven, tested way to make our government more democratic and more responsive to all of us. In Connecticut, for example, a study found that public financing allows legislators to spend more time with their constituents. Meanwhile, lobbyists have much less influence. Instead, legislators focus on the issues and more policies that favor the needs and interests of all the people are passed.”
Paul Gold from Merrick, will say, “We know from a study in New York City that public financing results in many more people being involved in elections, which is essential for a strong democracy. The study compared an election for City Council held under the City’s public financing rules with an election for State Assembly in the same areas. In the City Council election, small donors came from almost 90 percent of the city’s census blocks. In the State Assembly election, small donors came from only 30 percent of the city’s census block groups. 90 percent versus 30 percent. That’s a huge difference in participation.”
David Sprintzen, from Syosset, will discus, “Unfortunately, pay to play is not just an Albany problem. We have it here on Long Island also. Shortly after Superstorm Sandy, Nassau County Executive Mangano received more than $144,000 in campaign contributions from 23 companies that were awarded contracts for storm cleanup. For most of us, Superstorm Sandy was a disaster and a time to either seek help from our friends and neighbors, or provide help. But for others, that relief money was an opportunity.”
On July 2, 2013, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo appointed the “Commission to Investigate Public Corruption” under the Moreland Act and Executive Law Section 63(8) to probe systemic corruption and the appearance of such corruption in state government, political campaigns and elections in New York State. The commission is tasked with among things, reviewing the adequacy of existing state laws, regulations and procedures involving unethical and unlawful misconduct by public officials and the electoral process and campaign finance laws. It will also examine whether existing laws and regulations have been fairly and vigorously enforced and what changes must be made to such enforcement. The Commission is directed to make recommendations to toughen and improve existing laws and procedures by Dec 1st.
