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"...We are all agreed on a unified and focused fiscal response to the health crisis facing our state, providing the necessary funds as part of the budget so that all levels of government can respond aggressively to the public health threat presented by COVID-19. Lawmakers must remain focused on that goal alone, and not try to cram through unrelated policy issues as part of the budget. ..."

Common Cause New York is pleased to see Governor Cuomo's proposed bills to close the LLC loophole, but with ten session days left it's a race against time.

On February 22nd Common Cause New York sent a letter to the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) and Campaign Finance Board (CFB) requesting an investigation into Mayor Bill de Blasio's 501 (c) 4 entity called the Campaign for One New York. Although the Mayor has shuttered the Campaign for One New York, there remain related issues, noted in the complaint that still warrant investigation.

The first briefing focuses on contributions to Senator Mike Ranzenhofer via the LLC loophole from 2005-2015. The LLC loophole was a central issue in the corruption cases against Dean Skelos and Sheldon Silver who both accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from New York City based Glenwood Management, in return for preferential treatment. New York State law treats LLCs as individuals, as opposed to corporations, subject to the much higher contribution limit. As a result wealthy interests use it to circumvent the campaign finance laws to influence lawmakers and seek favorable policies.

Today Governor Cuomo appeared on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show to talk about a number of issues including campaign finance reform.

In response to news reports that Syracuse Mayor, Stephanie Miner, will no longer accept campaign contributions through the LLC loophole