Testimony
2022 State Budget Testimony
Common Cause New York's testimony before two budget hearings.
Testimony
Common Cause/NY Testimony on Public Financing for New York State
Common Cause/NY testified in support of a public financing system for NYS elections.
It is essential that any public financing system balance competing factors of encouraging qualified candidates to run for office with appropriate financial safeguards. There is little point in setting up a system which, due to poorly thought out provisions or political compromises that ignore practicalities, does not succeed in its objectives, as outlined in the 2020 state budget. In fact, such a failure would not achieve the laudable public policy goals of refocusing our campaign finance system away from wealthy special interests and big donors, and move towards small dollar contributions by every day New Yorkers and encourage more qualified candidates to run.