NY's wide-open campaign coffers

Got $60,800 lying around? Why not donate it to a candidate for statewide office -- $19,700 for the primary and $41,100 for the general election. The extraordinarily high limits on how much New Yorkers can donate to state political campaigns just increased again to reflect the rise in the consumer price index, as they do every four years.

What's most notable is how much looser New York State's limits are than the federal ones. New Yorkers can donate $2,500 to candidates for the presidency, House or U.S. Senate, but can give candidates for the Assembly $4,100 and State Senate $10,300. And we can give up to $60,800 to hopefuls for governor, attorney general and comptroller. The money has too much power. If we want government by and for the people, rather than rule by and for the moneyed players, we need public campaign financing in this state.