Campaign finance reform and changes to our system of elections

HARRY DAVIS ON THE ISSUES

Campaign finance reform and changes to our system of elections

One of the problems in Albany is the power money has. The high contribution limits can influence assembly members and senators, as well as statewide elected officials like the governor.

It is time to change this broken system.

My plan for reforming our campaign finance system includes:

- Limiting contributions for assembly members and senators to the same levels allowed for members of Congress through the FEC. That means assembly members and senators will be allowed to receive up to $4,800 - $2,400 for the primary, $2,400 for the general election.

- Limiting contributions for statewide elected offices to $5,000 - $2,500 for the primary and $2,500 for the general. This would impact candidates for governor, attorney general and comptroller.

- Give the state Board of Elections broader powers to investigate abuses of the campaign finance system and election law infractions. We cannot create new campaign finance laws without the Board of Elections being the key oversight body for these changes.

- Limiting contributions allowed to party committees to same levels as assembly members and senators. Right now, party committees can receives tens of thousands of dollars from the same source. One example of this is when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave $500,000 to the Senate GOP. It's time that party committees face the same limits as our representatives.

Reforming our campaign finance system isn't where it ends, however. I also propose making certain changes to our system of elections here in New York.

- Moving our Primary Day from September to June. One of the great disadvantages for candidates in New York is the proximity of our primaries to the general election. For candidates in all parties, once you are finished with a primary, you have seven weeks before the general election. That is a short period of time to reset and prepare yourself for the general election.

Moving Primary Day to June would allow for a five month period between a primary and general election. That is much more reasonable than what we currently have.

- Eliminate fusion voting. Fusion voting is the practice of minor party lines endorsing major party (GOP, DEM) candidates, allowing that candidate to appear on more than one party line. This occurs often in state-level politics, with Democrats usually being backed by the Working Families Party and Republicans supported by the Conservative and Independence Party lines. These parties should put forth their own candidates if they wish to have a presence. Not only do I think this will help these parties increase their profiles, especially during these times, but it will also give the major parties a reason to appeal to a broader base instead of looking to the minor party lines to do that for them.