Legislative Reform Can't Succeed Without Campaign Reform

LEGISLATIVE REFORM CAN'T SUCCEED 

WITHOUT CAMPAIGN REFORM

     New Yorkers are clearly unhappy with their state government.  Corruption, high taxes, and many policies that run contrary to the popular will have long been Albany staples.  Yet the reelection rate of incumbents remains remarkably high--indeed, it equals that of the old USSR.  

     The reason for this dichotomy is clear.  Campaign and ethics laws are geared to favor the reelection of those already in office.  Combined with the regular advantages of incumbency, this makes sitting elected officials almost immune to challengers, whether from another party, or from reformers within their own parties.

    Several Examples:

•      The use of taxpayer-funded "official" newsletters that are thinly-veiled campaign literature;
•      The use of "member items" to reward or punish constituency groups that support incumbents;
•       Campaign finance laws that favor organization candidates that can raise funds to hire professionals to wade through complex regulations, or to raise large amounts of cash early in the election season and qualify for debates that have funding requirements; and
•       New voting machines that also provide a boost to incumbents facing challenges from third parties.  If a voter mistakenly votes for a candidate on both a major party line and a minor party line, the vote on the major party line is automatically counted and the minor party line is ignored.  While this doesn't affect the immediate election, this does weaken the position of minor parties seeking to reform the system in the long run.

     Incumbents feeling reasonably secure from the wrath of voters have little incentive to change their behavior.  Therefore, to force current elected officials to improve their ethics and become more responsive, inappropriate campaign practices must first change.  

     The Community Action Civic Association, Inc. is attempting to accomplish this, and invites all concerned citizens, organizations, and fair-minded elected officials to join in this effort.  Please contact Frank Vernuccio at nycommunityaction@gmail.com.