Fund New York Fair Elections Now. No Delay.

On Thursday, representing Empire State Indivisible I spoke at Fair Elections rally / presser in Albany about the New York State State Budget and funding New York State’s public campaign finance program. Here’s what I said.

Empire State Indivisible is here today with many of our partner organizations in the Fair Elections Coalition to hold our Governor, leadership of the State Legislature, our State Senators and Assembly Members to account on the New York State Budget.

To make sure the State Budget is a people-centered budget.

A budget that invests in policy for middle class, working-class, and low-income New Yorkers over policy that gives tax breaks and giveaways to the wealthiest.

A budget that funds New York State’ s landmark public campaign financing program to uplift the voices of all New Yorkers, especially those who are most marginalized and need government to work for them.

In 2022 state races, 200 of New York’s wealthiest donors gave candidates $16 million

Make no mistake. Big money donors think that their big donations buy them influence on policy and the state budget to their benefit.

We cannot have a people-centered state budget that invests in our communities if our elections are bought and paid for by wealthy donors.

Bought and paid for by oil companies trying to stop the implementation of New York’s first-in-the-nation Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act.

Bought and paid for by billionaire charter school supporters who support an executive budget proposal lifting the charter school cap in NYC.

Bought and paid for by REBNY and other real estate interests trying to stop tenant protections like good cause eviction.

Bought and paid for by billionaire individuals and corporations trying to stop progressive taxation policy that asks them to pay what they owe on the profits they make from New York’s workforce, infrastructure, and resources.

“We cannot have a people-centered state budget that invests in our communities if our elections are bought and paid for by wealthy donors. New York State’s landmark public campaign financing program will uplift the voices of all New Yorkers in our elections, in our budget, and in policy making. We call on Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Heastie to fund New York’s public campaign financing program in the State Budget and to not allow any delay to its implementation.”

We have a program in place that will uplift the voices of all New Yorkers in our elections, in our budget, and in our policy making.

A landmark public campaign financing program that allows legislative and statewide candidates to receive a match on small contributions. The approach of this program gives the smallest contributions the most meaningful match.

So, today we call on our Governor, leadership of the State Legislature, our State Senators and Assembly Members to fund New York State’s public campaign financing program in the State Budget and to not allow any delay in its implementation.