NY progressives push for public campaign finances

Posted at: 10/03/2012 2:25 PM
By: Associated Press

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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A group of progressives is trying to push New York's Legislature to adopt public financing of campaigns as a national model in a special post-election session.
 
Unions and religious and good-government groups have joined with the influential Working Families Party to meet Thursday in Manhattan to force a trade-off for public financing of campaigns in exchange for pay raises sought by legislators.
 
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has pushed the bill as a way to reduce the influence of money in government.
 
The Senate's Republican majority has opposed using public funds for campaigns.
 
Lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo say a post-election session is possible in November or December and legislative pay raises could be on the agenda.
 
But the Senate's GOP lawmakers say raises aren't a priority for them.
 
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)




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