New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has managed to amass a considerable political war chest over the years. What makes it possible? New York States campaign contribution loopholes. The Democrat & Chronicle has the story of how it works.
As Cuomo seeks a third term in November, a review of records by the USA TODAY Network's Albany Bureau found Cuomo's campaign coffers are filled with donations from companies with business before the state — and regularly made through a massive loophole in state law.
The influence of money on New York politics is important: Taxpayers are often the ones on the hook for contracts and benefits awarded to donors.
Here’s just one of the highlights from the review:
Cuomo relies on large donors — and those donors seem to get an awful lot of state contracts and other considerations. But… it’s all legal in New York State if you know how to work the loopholes. As with Cuomo, so throughout the rest of the different levels of government in New York State.
How important is having cash on hand for Cuomo?
He was able to spend more than $25 million on his blowout Democratic primary victory last month against Cynthia Nixon, the actress who spent only about $2.6 million.
And Cuomo still had $11.6 million to spend on his general election race against third-party candidates and Republican Marc Molinaro, who had less than $1 million in his coffers in July.
Cuomo was down to $9 million in the bank this month, while Molinaro had just $211,000.
Those numbers tell you why a primary challenge against Cuomo is not for the faint-hearted. It’s why there have been high-level corruption scandals coming out of Albany. Too much money, too little oversight.
Read the Whole Thing.
Thursday, Oct 18, 2018 · 7:14:47 PM +00:00
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xaxnar
Update : For those who see this as just an anti-Cuomo diary, this is more a look at institutionalized pay for play; read the article if you want to see how it works. Cuomo is playing the game the way it has been played for decades — he happens to be rather good at it. If you are looking for a people-powered campaign, Cuomo is not your guy.
There is a good chance Democrats could take both sides of the legislature this year. At that point they and Cuomo could make all the reforms they want… consider it a test.