Andrew Cuomo on Government Reform

2002 Democratic Challenger NY Governor

Supports campaign finance reform as fair to all candidates

In order to restore trust and accountability in government, we must reform the ballot box. The State's campaign finance laws fail to prevent the dominance of wealthy contributors and special interests in government. Campaign finance reform must include a system of public funding of elections. The State needs a system of campaign financing to set limits on campaign spending and increase participation by candidates who otherwise would lack the means or connections to raise campaign funds. Source: New York 2011 gubernatorial press release "Assets SOS2011" , Jan 5, 2011

Tough new ethics standards & expand disclosure requirements

We must restore honor & integrity to government, with tough new ethics standards, expanded disclosure requirements, independent investigators to root out & punish corruption, & an overhaul of campaign finance laws. We must remove legislative redistrictin from partisan elected politicians & place it in the hands of an independent commission that works only for the people. And we must hold a constitutional convention--A People's Convention--to rewrite the Constitution and make these changes immediately. Source: 2010 Gubernatorial campaign website, andrewcuomo.com , Nov 2, 2010

End “government for sale” with public financing of campaigns

Cuomo demanded changes to end “government for sale.” He proposed that donors be allowed to give a candidate no more than $2,000 per race. He called for public financing of campaigns and capping spending per candidate at $2.5 million for primaries & $7 million for the general election. He said an entity with a state contract should be banned from giving money to the official who awarded the contract, & an entity giving a donation would be barred from receiving a contract from that official. Source: Ruth Bashinsky/Joel Siegel, Daily News , Mar 24, 2002

Cannot be both a state vendor & campaign donor

Cuomo said contributions should be limited to $2,000 per election for statewide office and $1,500 for state legislators. He said state contractors should be banned from making political contributions for two years after being awarded a contract and shoul two years of giving a contribution to an official who controls such contracts. “To be blunt, you should not be both a campaign donor and a state vendor. It is a blatant conflict of interest.” Source: Karen Matthews, Associated Press , Mar 21, 2002

Click here for definitions & background information on Government Reform. Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Andrew Cuomo. Click here for a profile of Andrew Cuomo. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Andrew Cuomo. Agree? Disagree? Voice your opinions on Government Reform in The Forum. Click here for issue positions of other NY politicians.
*Other governors on Government Reform:*		*Andrew Cuomo on other issues:*
*NY Senatorial:* Charles Schumer Kirsten Gillibrand *Newly seated 2010:* NJ Chris Christie VA Bob McDonnell *Term-limited as of Jan. 2011:* AL Bob Riley CA Arnold Schwarzenegger GA Sonny Perdue HI Linda Lingle ME John Baldacci MI Jennifer Granholm NM Bill Richardson OK Brad Henry OR Ted Kulongoski PA Ed Rendell RI Donald Carcieri SC Mark Sanford SD Mike Rounds TN Phil Bredesen WY Dave Freudenthal	*Newly Elected Nov. 2010:* AL: Robert Bentley (R) CA: Jerry Brown (D) CO: John Hickenlooper (D) CT: Dan Malloy (D) FL: Rick Scott (R) GA: Nathan Deal (R) HI: Neil Abercrombie (D) IA: Terry Branstad (R) KS: Sam Brownback (R) ME: Paul LePage (R) MI: Rick Snyder (R) MN: Mark Dayton (D) ND: Jack Dalrymple (R) NM: Susana Martinez (R) NV: Brian Sandoval (R) NY: Andrew Cuomo (D) OH: John Kasich (R) OK: Mary Fallin (R) PA: Tom Corbett (R) RI: Lincoln Chafee (I) SC: Nikki Haley (R) SD: Dennis Daugaard (R) TN: Bill Haslam (R) VT: Peter Shumlin (D) WI: Scott Walker (R) WY: Matt Mead (R)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]

Page last updated: Nov 21, 2011