Legislature and Governor’s Furtive Weakening of Public Campaign System, Postponement of Outside Income Caps Is Cynical, Anti-Democratic, and Self-Serving

May 7, 2025

We expect much better from Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and the Democrats who control New York’s budget and laws. 

New York’s historic public campaign finance law system passed after years of extensive debate, nine public hearings and meetings, and countless other consultative meetings. Many details were publicly – often heatedly – debated in daylight. 

We are disappointed by the contempt the Governor and Legislature are showing to New Yorkers as they weaken this landmark legislation and delay restrictions on outside income in a secretive, historically late budget with no public debate – then rush a vote using the Governor’s “message of necessity” emergency power. This is not just a “process issue” – this is Democratic incumbents changing the rules of the game to benefit themselves in the dark of night. 

Yes, the state public matching program needs to continuously evolve. But this evolution should be done in daylight with ample consultation with the public – as the NYC Campaign Finance Board and City Council have managed to do for decades. 

We strongly support public matching and pay for public officials that reflects their enormous responsibilities. We want the best possible candidates for the voters to choose from and to have the best state elected officials in the country. 

Governor and Legislature’s Changes to NY Public Campaign Finance Law (Part OO of A3005-C)

Support 

  • Payout dates were moved up so that campaigns can receive funds more quickly during the primary.
  • A severability clause was added to protect the program from legal threats.
  • Allows the PCFB to audit any campaign that has credible reports of fraud at any time.

Strongly Oppose

  • The first $250 of aggregate contributions up to $1,050 can be matched with public money. Previously, only contributions totalling $250 could be matched. 
  • Campaigns can keep up to $50,000 in non-public funds instead of having to return the surplus.
  • Candidates shall have 30 days to cure violations identified by the PCFB.

No Position 

  • The legal definition of “competitive election” was made more strict.
  • Candidates are no longer required to establish a new committee for each election cycle.
  • Requires the PCFB to establish a training program for compliance officers.

Changes to Outside Income (Part PP of A3005-C)

Strongly Oppose

  • Delays implementation of outside income restrictions to 2027 (pending outcome of court cases). The 2022 law would limit outside income to $35,000, and has no restrictions on lawmakers having fiduciary relationships with clients. The U.S. Congress has a much better system, with a 15% cap on outside income, and ban on fiduciary relationships.