WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York
What Real Campaign Reform Should
Be
You should know that soon I will
be organizing a press conference together with many religious and Hispanic
ministers to start a movement in which our minority community should be
educated in regards to campaign finance reform. Leaders of both parties,
Democrat and Republican, will be invited to join us.
You should also know that yes,
we are in need of election reform – but not just any old window-dressing
reform. We are in need of real, deep and serious campaign finance and election
reform.
Therefore, let me give you in advance
what I believe real campaign reform should include.
As I have said before in another
What You Should Know:
First, let’s start by giving
four-year terms to our New York State Senators and Assembly Members.
Everybody else has four-year terms.
The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the
New York City Mayor, and the New York City Council Members – they all
serve four-year terms. This gives them all ample time to dedicate themselves
to the business of the people – without having to be distracted too much
about making time to raise money for their next election. Instead, as soon
as New York State’s Senators and Assembly Members get elected, they have
to start raising money to get re-elected instead of honestly and faithfully
dedicating most of their time to their duties as legislators. It is important
to give Senators and Assembly Members four-year terms. I assure you that
this will be good, and it will help to lessen corruption and desperation
for some legislators to raise money for their next campaign.
Second, it would be ideal if
New York State’s election reform would also include a mandate to stagger
elections.
You should know that in the United
States Senate, Senators have six-year terms and every two years, one third
of the Senate is elected. If the New York State Senate and Assembly would
have elections staggered so that only half of the body would be up for
re-election every two years, we would have continuity and seniority and
experience. It would be more stabilizing for our government, and for our
election cycles.
Third, legislators should be
full time with no outside income.
We need legislators to provide
full disclosure about all their business dealings, as well as every aspect
of their operations. If election reform changes the status of Senators
and Assembly Members from a part-time to a full-time job, it would help
eliminate a lot of the temptation and the hanky-panky of lawyers in elected
office who currently do business with firms and serve as 'of counsel' to
companies that do business with cities, local municipalities, and the State.
A legislator should be a full time legislator, with no other part-time
jobs.
Fourth, you should also know
that the proposed election package reform bill will give more power and
control to groups, unions, organizations and PACS.
Right now, they can only contribute
limited amounts of money to candidates. As things stand now, they are limited
to how much money they can spend on a candidate. If Governor Andrew
Cuomo’s election reform bill passes as it is, they most certainly will
have even more power and ability to raise money.
For example, if a political party
decides to ask every one of their members to contribute at least $25 dollars
to a candidate of their choice to oust an opponent, and they all contribute,
the government matching funds for each of those $25 dollar donations grows
to $150. If you multiply that amount by the number of party members who
donate, that’s a lot of money – and a powerful tool for the party to
either oust or help an incumbent or an insurgent. I am deeply concerned
that political parties and Super PACS and organizations backed by wealthy
individuals will make it much easier to say “Bye-bye!” to any incumbent
who has the strong support of his or her constituents.
Finally, you should know that I
personally never liked using public funds to support political candidates
when our communities are in need of services. Why are they proposing to
spend between two hundred to three hundred million dollars from public
funds to give politicians money to run their campaigns? It seems to me
that money should be spent building affordable housing or to help senior
citizens or to improve child care services. The list is endless.
If there really is no money to
help community organizations, senior citizen centers, little leagues, block
associations and community watch groups, then we should not use public
money to support political campaigns. After eliminating resources to community
groups and not-for-profit organizations that serve the people, why should
we instead be giving money to politicians to run their campaigns? New Yorkers
would be much better served if their tax money is given to our senior citizens
for computer labs, little leagues for uniforms and baseball equipment,
and block associations to strengthen the role of our families and neighbors.
Ladies and gentlemen, as people
attempt to pressure me and discuss ways to approach the much-needed election
reform, you should know that I feel obligated to share with you what real
campaign reform should be.
This is New York State Senator
Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.
