NY groups push public financing of campaigns

ALBANY -- A coalition of major labor unions, progressive political groups and good-government advocates is trying to push the State Legislature to adopt public financing of campaigns. The effort, aimed at a likely special session after the elections, would be used as a national model.

The groups have joined with the influential Working Families Party to meet today in Manhattan to force a trade-off: public financing of campaigns in exchange for pay raises sought by legislators. National leaders of the Communications Workers of America, the Sierra Club and the NAACP are scheduled to attend to help plot a way to make New York a national model to expand public financing of campaigns.

"This has gotten more movement than anyone thought it could, but it's still about the heaviest lift in politics," said Dan Cantor, executive director of the left-leaning Working Families Party, which works closely with Democrats.

So-called super PACS with few restraints on spending for or against policies or candidates are emboldened by a 2010 Supreme Court decision. The Citizens United case stripped many restrictions on campaign spending and allowed wealthy individuals and corporations a louder voice for and against candidates.

Public financing of campaigns remains one of the biggest campaign promises of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that remains unfulfilled.

He and lawmakers have said a post-election session is possible in November or December and legislative pay raises could be on the agenda. That would be a leverage point for a trade for other major issues, including the voluntary public financing of campaigns and raising the minimum wage, which is another Cuomo goal.

The Senate's GOP lawmakers, however, say raises aren't a priority for them and oppose using public money for campaigns. They seek a jobs program with tax breaks for businesses.

Cuomo has repeatedly said public pressure is needed to push lawmakers to restrict a system that has helped keep them in power. Public financing of campaigns and raising the minimum wage also track national Democratic politics, should Cuomo seek to run for president in 2016.

"I think what's important is we get the support groups to come up with a common agenda and then we push," Cuomo said in July.