POINTS OF VIEW

Putting the 'public' back into campaign finance laws

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Democracy works best when the voices of all people are included and represented. The launch last November of the state Public Campaign Finance Program empowers everyday New Yorkers and diminishes the power of special interests by beginning to take big money out of politics.

This is a victory for the people — one that has been in the works for decades. The finance program will strengthen democracy, enable more candidates from diverse backgrounds to run for office, and create deeper accountability to constituents.

The finance program allows all candidates running for state office the opportunity to participate in a voluntary public campaign financing system, which matches small-dollar contributions with public funds.

A similar campaign finance program is already being used successfully in New York City, and we urge those who currently hold office and those that want to run to commit to using the finance program.

We protect democracy by ensuring elected officials are beholden to all voters and not to special interests or big donors. This system’s design incentivizes smaller donations and shifts the power to the people who most need the government to represent their interests.

Now, New Yorkers who have been historically disenfranchised by the political process are more included. The Public Campaign Finance Program will allow candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, state comptroller, state attorney general, state senator or the Assembly to access matching funds based on those individual, small-dollar donations from their constituents.

The finance program is intended to level the playing field and eliminate barriers for candidates from all incomes and backgrounds. Many qualified, ordinary New Yorkers without access to funding do not run for elected office, or face a severe financial disadvantage to mount a viable campaign.

The new system boosts the value of small contributions from ordinary donors, enabling candidates — both incumbents and challengers — to spend their time connecting with and hearing from the people they seek to represent, as opposed to courting wealthy out-of-district contributors.

The result is elected officials who are more accountable to the people in their districts, and who reflect the diversity of their neighborhoods. For example, in New York City’s last City Council elections, representation of women more than doubled to 61 percent, and people of color grew from 51 to 67 percent when the city’s campaign finance program was used, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

Many of the winners that year who received public financing raised as much, on average, as their white and male counterparts. When candidates better reflect who they represent, we have a more inclusive, representative democracy.

Public campaign financing also limits the appearance of pay-to-play. With the Public Campaign Finance Program, candidates who apply for public funds must submit to financial review, creating a greater degree of transparency.

The finance program will only provide a match of public funds on eligible contributions of $5 to $250. It also limits the total amount of public funds a participating candidate can receive.

New York’s Public Campaign Finance Program is a major step forward for grassroots, participatory democracy. It is a smart investment in the state’s future designed to empower all New Yorkers, and not just the deep- pocketed few.

The Public Campaign Finance Board will implement the program, authorizing up to $100 million annually in public funds for legislative and statewide offices. Funding for the program includes a $10 million appropriation in last year’s budget, and proceeds from a tax check-off, contributions, and unclaimed funds.

We hope this nonpartisan program will be embraced by candidates from all parties. It makes sense from a financial standpoint, and increases the power of voters and their voices while setting New York on a path toward more fair elections.

DiNapoli is New York’s state comptroller, while Wharton is the democracy coalition coordinator for the Citizen Action of New York. State Sen. Myrie is the chair of the senate’s elections committee. A version of this Point of View originally appeared in the New York Daily News.

Thomas DiNapoli, Karen Wharton, Zellnor Myrie, campaign finance laws, New York City

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