‘Brennan Center for Jestice, Center bx Working Fnuies, Citizen Action of lle York, Common Canse,Dermcray Matiers 328) 1199 SEIU INYSUT, IYPRUG, ACT HOW, Altany Presbytery, Asciacou de Mjeres Progress Brookiva Hoveneat Center, Brooklyn NoveOs Council BBWICA Edtcatioal Pun In, Capital nea Council Churches, Capital Refing of HY oveOa, Cts Citizens fr Safe Energy, Center Health Environment & jase, Center fr Independence of the Diabet offiew York, Citzens Una, Community Voces Heard Commmaty Free Denocras CWA 1104, CWA Distt 1, Denoeracy fr le York City Dencratcom, Dram Nap latte, FiagerlakesHoveOu Foundation ofnteprative ADS Research, FUREE, Greer Ie Yor:Labor Relig Cobia, Hunger Acton letvorkoflY state "tert Impact of lle York State, Jobs ith sie LL bs wth Justice IY, Loug ad Coaliton fora latonal Healthpian {ong Island Pro resive Coalition, Lou Id WHI, ake the Pad NY, ashattan Young Democrats eto Jastce of Rochester Metro New York Healthcare fr All Netropolitaa Russian Arricas Peat Association Mount Vernon United Tenants MoveOu Nankatan Cousci, ASW-IYS, lew Roosevelt Initiative lew York Sate arses Associaton, IY StateWite Seni Acton Council. Partuership Pub Good, Peace Action of Ceuta le York, People Unite fr Sustainable Housing, Prsonersare People Too Peblic countably nitative, Queens County Young Denmcrats Schesece Crsrmnity Acton, Professional Staff Congress~ CUNY, Program Socal asic ConsellofFirst Unita Chueh offochester, Syracuse Peace Couacl rarse United Mieghbors ‘Tenants Political Action Comnitee, UFCW, Urs Justice Ceuter, Voices Of Conmnity Activists & Leaders, WESPAC Foundation ‘West Se Cannpigs Aainst Hanger, Western le York Peae Center PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS IS A KEY GOVERNMENT REFORM December 23,2010 Dear Governor Fleet Cuomo, ‘We write to strongly encourage your leadership in proposing and enacting a voluntary system of public campaign finance early inthe 2011 legislative session. (ur groups strongly support your bold and commen senseproposalto enact public campaign fiance outlined in your Clean Up Albany policy bookand hopete eit discussed in your first State of the Stateaddress. Wenrerendy and evergied to work with youte passa ‘Public inancing of arapaigns option in 2011, As good government, civil ight environmental, bor, comma healt are, eal justice and grassrootsadvecaey organizations, weare usted in our desire for real reform. Wefully support passage ofa syster that ends candidates’ dependence on arse private campaign domationsasa meas to win legsativeand stateride oficein New York. and instead. makes elected ofcialsarcountableo votesby allowing candidates to qualify for public funds to ru ther campaigns. ‘til ake someone in your positon with your vision fora stronger, more democratic and transparent New York o lead the effort to ‘uly cleanup state goverment and change the eulturein Albany. Likeyou, weall agree that in order to truly give Albay "lean bill of ‘health 57st of public campaign finance along with ether campaign fiance refers including lower contribution Init, elosing loopholes and strong but fir enforcement, must be exacted, For decades, our organizations have confronted state government fraught with corruption as weadvocated for changes in Albany. We Inow that the pubic interest ould be better servedif our elected oficial were able run for office using a system of public empaign finance, like New York Giy’s. Such a system promotes transpareney and accountability tothe public. It restores the publi'strs government and encourages more participation in the electoral and legistive process. It encourages genuine debate around issues ‘More participation, competitionand equal opportunity in our letions system are beneficial to every New Yorker. ‘You havean opportunity to crentea more functional and productive state government and promote Nev York States national lender in government refor.Emactinga sstem of public irancing of elections is eritica to meeting these goals Sincere, ‘Brenan Centr for Justice ‘Michael Waldman Executive Director mere Blair Horner LegisiativeDirector Center for Working Families Dave Pahuer, Bective Director 328) Hector Figueroa, Seeretary Treasurer Gtizen Acton ofNew York Karen Self ExeeuveDireetor wsuT ‘Steve linger, Legislative Director Common Cause Susan Lerner, Executive Director 1199 SEIU ‘Kevin Finnegan, Political Director Democracy Matters Joan Mandle, Exerutive DirectorACTNOW Heather Roberson, Director Albany Presbytery Cassi shaw, General Presyter Asoctacion de Mujeres Progresstas (armen Acosta Secretary ‘Brooklyn Movement Center ‘Mark Winston Grit, Executive Direct ‘Brooklyn MoveOn Council Bermadetter Walker, Regio Coordimter -BWICA Educational Fund Capital aren Council of Ghinehes Pl Rees Robsbacher President, Beard ofDirectors Capital Region of ty Moveon Joe Seenan, ‘Team Coordinator Cats Gtizens for Sate Energy Bruce Ferguson Direttor Center for Health, Environment & Justice Leis Gibbs, Executive Direct Center for Independence ofthe Disabled offer York Stan Dooka, Coalition for Eronomie Justice allison Duwe, ‘cecutive Direct Community Voices Heard Cconmaumity Free Democrats ‘Vimy Alfonso, President ce Jeremy Credan, Special Counsel on Public Integuty and Ethies issues, wa 1108 ‘GeargeBloom, President (owA District 1 (his Shelton Vice President Democracy for New York Gry ‘Tatey Denton Director Demwocracont BobFertk President Dr Major Institute Fy Kim, Director Fingerbkes MoveOn Pan Gueldner, (Coumell Coordinator Foundation oftategrative AIDSRerenreh (George. Carter, Diret PUREE Valery Jean, Executive Director Greater New York {aber Religion Coalition Rabbi Feinbere, Executive Director Hunger Action Nerworkof NY Sate MarkeDunle, Director Interfaith tapaet of New York State Robb Sa ExecutiveDirector Jobs wit Justice Lt ‘Gaarlene Obeniaer, Director Jobs wit Justice Matt Ryan, Director Long stand Ceaition fora Tintonal Heathpian ster Confine, Secretary Long stand Progressive Cealtion Liss Tyson. Director Long stanaWans Maryann Sutsky, Director Make the Roady Ama Maria Archi, Deputy Direc Manhattan Young Democrats Enum Steal Haris, VicePresident ‘Metro Justice ofRothester Jesse Lenny, President Executive Committee Metro NewYork Healtharefor All ‘Mare Hannay, Director Metropolitan Russian ‘American Parent ‘Assocation Valdinir Epshteyn, Director ‘Mount Vernon United MoveOn Manbattan Counei Steve Mueller, Counel Coordinator nasW.aNs KarinMforan, Director ofPolicy New Roosevelt Intative ‘BUT Samuels, hairaan, ‘New York State Nurses ‘Assocation ‘aun Flynn, Director, Governmental Affairs New York Gy Cowell Progressive Caucus BradLander, Malin ‘Mark Vivierto, Co-Chairs NY StateWide Sei Action Couneiine. Partnership for Public Good Su Magavern, CoDinector Peacection of Cental NewYork Gerald Letierze, Gir People United for Sustainable Housing Erie Walker, Director of Organizing Picture the Homeless Professional Saft (Congress CUNY ‘Barbara Boen President Public Accountabiiy Initiative Kevin Gamer, Co Director queens Coumy Young Costa Constantinides, President Schenectady (Conniunity Action Progam Deb Schima, ExectiveDirector Social Justice Cound of Fret Unitarian Church of Rochester John Keevert, Co-Chair ‘Syracuse Peace Council Jessica Mcrell ‘Staff Organizer Syracuse United Neighbors Richard Pachalsi, Dinector “Tenants Potical Action Committee Michael MeKee Treasurer AW Region94, Julie Kushner, Director [UFCW Local 1500 Pat Purcell Assistant to {he President Urban Justice Center Doug Lasden, Executive Director Voices Of Community Activists Lenders ‘Sean Barry, Beeeutive Director WESPACFoundation Nada Khader, Executive Director Wes Side Campaign Against Hunger Doreen Wel Executive Director Western New York Pence Center James Andersen, Chair