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Today's Poll: Do you support public financing of political campaigns?

By Howard B. Owens
Sammy DiSalvo

So the bill reads-in my understanding-that a commission of up to $100 million will be set up that will dish out money to match whatever small donations are made to campaigns. So it's not a full public financing with state money but a match of small donations whose total will not exceed $100 million? Is that correct on how the bill reads?

Apr 3, 2019, 2:38pm Permalink
John Roach

$100 million is a lot, but when you figure all the thousands of offices in this State that are elected, I doubt that will be enough. And this will also result in another Albany government authority that will have to be paid for, and it will not be a small office. And since the people who would be setting it up will be downstate liberal Democrats, I see this as a bad idea.

Apr 3, 2019, 3:00pm Permalink
Tim Miller

John - would a program such as this that simply supplements rather than pays for campaigns be a good idea if upstate conservative Republicans set it up?

Apr 3, 2019, 4:12pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

My concern is this becomes one more way to for the two major parties to consolidate their grip on power, that minor party candidates and non-affiliated candidates won't benefit and even that the rules will be written so it's harder for them to be assisted.

Apr 3, 2019, 10:27pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

A fluffy cloud of good intentions, that encroaches on the First Amendment. Eliminate the opposition through Legislation.

Apr 4, 2019, 7:18am Permalink
Tim Miller

Thanks, John... I just wanted to clarify that it was a bad idea in general, not just a bad idea if a specific group set it up.

Apr 4, 2019, 9:25am Permalink
Daniel Norstrand

Political shenanigans. More money in politics is laughable. This plays into cuomo's aspirations for the presidency by shoveling more money into the money grubbing media corporations insatiable swamp hole. They, of course, will be especially greatful to such a gracious infusion.
We need a system that can portray each candidate's positions and aspirations for their constituency in a balanced and fair way. That means controls that reign in spending, not increase it.

Apr 4, 2019, 9:36am Permalink

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