Common Cause/NY Commends Governor and Attorney General for Moreland Commission Appointment

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

July 2, 2013

Susan Lerner, 212-691-6421

Common Cause/NY Commends Governor and Attorney General for Moreland Commission Appointment

Good Government Watchdog Heartened by Broad Scope of Commission Charge

Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner issued the following statement on today’s appointment of a Moreland Commission:

“Today’s appointment of a Moreland Commission with sweeping authority to address the continuing problem of the corrupting influence of campaign dollars in Albany is an appropriate follow-up to the Legislature’s refusal to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform. As an organization which has long issued reports to “follow the money” and “connect the dots” between large campaign contributions and undue influence on public policy, Common Cause/NY is heartened by the broad scope of the Commission’s charge to not only investigate but also address the glaring inadequacies in our state’s campaign finance laws. We commend Governor Cuomo and Attorney General Schneiderman for joining together to bring the full weight of their offices to bear on the until-now intractable problem of political money breeding corruption in Albany and are impressed by the caliber of the individuals who have agreed to serve. We look forward to working with the Commission and its staff to share our research and our policy expertise, including Common Cause’s experience with numerous comprehensive campaign finance and public funding of elections systems around the country.”