Dollars and doubts

In a different state, legislators and the governor would have had the guts to curb insanely high campaign contribution limits and set up a public matching system for small-donor donations. This being New York, the craven muckety mucks in Albany rigged it so reforms outlined by an appointed Public Campaign Financing Commission will become law on Dec. 22 unless the Legislature and Gov. Cuomo say otherwise.

They should say otherwise. These socalled fixes are a dog’s breakfast.

In fact, calling them fixes is sleight of hand. None of the changes, including a new public matching funds program and lower (but still not nearly low enough) contribution limits, will apply until elections five years from now (for Assembly and state Senate) or seven years from now (for statewide offices).

Why not start in 2020? Or 2022 at the latest? Because the commission is a front for the Democrats who finally took full control of Albany this year. Incumbents fear change.

Since the last elections a year ago, the candidates’ caps are up 7% to $69,700 for statewide office-seekers, $19,300 for Senate and $9,400 for Assembly. Parties and committees controlled by legislative leaders can collect checks of $117,300. The reform panel chose to ignore what these bosses’ committees can take in (which will keep getting higher) and which bosses can transfer in unlimited amounts to candidates.

When the 2024 round does commence with reduced limits for candidates, incumbents can keep their bulging warchests.

This is cynical calculation dressed up as reform. The costume looks ridiculous.