[EL] Comptroller decision

Robert Wechsler catbird at pipeline.com
Mon Apr 7 10:20:46 PDT 2014


It isn't "whining" to be concerned about the appearance of running with 
funds that your office is supposed to be turning over to citizens. I can 
just imagine the accusations of conflict of interest --- of not working 
hard enough to get the money in the hands of rightful owners --- that 
would be directed at DiNapoli. He is right to be concerned.

Robert Wechsler
City Ethics

On 4/7/2014 12:13 PM, Sean Parnell wrote:
>
> Actually there's only one reason given (2 month mid-cycle 
> implementation). Everything else in the release is, frankly, just whining.
>
> I suppose the 2-month implementation issue may be a serious one, 
> particularly if it left a lot of the details up to regulators. But if 
> I were in his shoes I'd try to make it work, at least if I believed as 
> strongly in it has he claims. He's the incumbent after all, and a 
> quick review on Google (forgive me, research Gods!) shows that he has 
> no declared challengers in either the Democratic primary or the 
> November general election, so whatever problems there are with the 
> program he's probably survive, and do so with a $600,000 bank account 
> at the beginning, surely enough to give him a leg up on anybody else 
> who might challenge him.
>
> I am the last person to be surprised that campaign finance law is 
> being used in connection with political shenanigans, or that a 
> legislature might not have thought through everything before passing 
> something into law. But aside from "the law isn't everything we 
> wanted," I have a hard time seeing serious objections. DiNapoli could 
> participate with some modest difficulties, same as anyone else, and do 
> so from the position of an incumbent with a hefty bank account (plus 
> the matching funds he'd presumably be able to get for some of those 
> donations) to start the ball rolling.
>
> Sean Parnell
>
> President
>
> Impact Policy Management, LLC
>
> 6411 Caleb Court
>
> Alexandria, VA  22315
>
> 571-289-1374 (c)
>
> sean at impactpolicymanagement.com
>
> *From:*law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu 
> [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] *On Behalf Of 
> *Mark Schmitt
> *Sent:* Monday, April 07, 2014 11:57 AM
> *To:* law-election at uci.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [EL] Comptroller decision
>
> Please note that all of diNapoli's reasons for opting out of the 
> "program" are the same reasons that advocates of public financing gave 
> for strongly opposing the last-minute gimmick that Cuomo and the 
> legislature invented. If you're skeptical of this "program," Sean, so 
> am I and so is everyone else who supports small-donor empowerment 
> programs.
>
> From the Fair Elections NY statement:
>
> "We had hoped that Governor Cuomo would seize an historic opportunity 
> to pass public financing of elections in this state budget for all 
> state and legislative races. He told us that he was pressing for 
> consensus on a system of public financing that would end pay-to-play 
> politics in New York.
>
> Instead, the final budget includes a "pilot" program that would apply 
> only to the State Comptroller's office and would need to be 
> implemented in just two months, mid-election cycle.
>
> This proposal isn't a compromise. It's a capitulation to the 
> deep-pocketed interests that have so much sway at the Capitol and an 
> affirmation of the corrupt status quo that prevails in Cuomo's Albany.
>
> The Governor didn't simply fail to act. He was dismissive of the Fair 
> Elections for New York coalition's efforts throughout the budget 
> process and stood in the way of achieving reform at critical moments 
> in budget negotiations.
>
> At the same time, Cuomo disbanded the Moreland Commission, whose top 
> recommendation for fixing Albany's broken campaign finance system was 
> to enact public financing of elections for all statewide and 
> legislative races. The commission was supposed to be a catalyst for 
> reform --- instead Cuomo ignored its proposals and ensured its 
> investigations into public corruption would cease."
>
>
> Mark Schmitt
> 202/246-2350
> gchat or Skype: schmitt.mark
> twitter: mschmitt9
>
> On Mon, Apr 7, 2014 at 11:28 AM, Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu 
> <mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>> wrote:
>
> please use this thread if anyone responds to Sean.
>
> On 4/7/2014 8:21 AM, Sean Parnell wrote:
>
>     I highly recommend the /New York Times/ article Rick links to
>     about New York Comptroller' DiNapoli's decision to opt out of the
>     taxpayer financed campaign program in 2014, something he's been a
>     longtime advocate for. It's hilarious, at least if you're a
>     skeptic of these programs.
>
>     DiNapoli's reasons, at least those stated in the article, boil
>     down to the following:
>
>     1.It starts in 2014, not 2018
>
>     2.The Board of Elections is in charge (he apparently is not a fan
>     of that body)
>
>     3.The funds come from the 'unclaimed property' account, which his
>     office administers
>
>     4.He'd have to give back about $1.5 million of the $2.1 million
>     he's already raised for the race
>
>     The program, limited to the Controller's race in 2014 (as DiNapoli
>     has long suggested), is generally modeled on New York City's, with
>     a 6:1 match for donations of $175 or less.
>
>     Why am I reminded of Augustine's prayer, "Lord, make me chaste,
>     but not yet!"?
>
>     Sean Parnell
>
>     President
>
>     Impact Policy Management, LLC
>
>     6411 Caleb Court
>
>     Alexandria, VA  22315
>
>     571-289-1374 <tel:571-289-1374> (c)
>
>     sean at impactpolicymanagement.com
>     <mailto:sean at impactpolicymanagement.com>
>
>     *From:*law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu
>     <mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu>
>     [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] *On Behalf
>     Of *Rick Hasen
>     *Sent:* Monday, April 07, 2014 10:32 AM
>     *To:* law-election at uci.edu <mailto:law-election at uci.edu>
>     *Subject:* [EL] ELB News and Commentary 4/7/14
>
>
>         From the Man Who Brought You Shelby County, NAMUDNO, and
>         Fisher... <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60158>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:30 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60158> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     ...comes a new attack
>     <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/us/politics/edward-blum-one-man-organization-keeps-watchful-eye-on-college-race-admissions-policies-.html?ref=adamliptak&_r=0>on
>     affirmative action at universities.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60158&title=From%20the%20Man%20Who%20Brought%20You%20Shelby%20County%2C%20NAMUDNO%2C%20and%20Fisher%E2%80%A6&description=>
>
>     Posted in Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
>
>
>         "The Only Form Of Corruption The Supreme Court Cares About Is
>         Almost Impossible To Prosecute"
>         <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60156>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:29 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60156> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Ryan Reilly and Paul Blumenthal
>     <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/07/supreme-court-corruption_n_5093485.html>
>     report for HuffPo.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60156&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20Only%20Form%20Of%20Corruption%20The%20Supreme%20Court%20Cares%20About%20Is%20Almost%20Impossible%20To%20Prosecute%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         Breaking: Supreme Court Denies Cert in Corporate Contributions
>         Case <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60154>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:26 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60154> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     This news
>     <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/high-court-rejects-new-campaign-finance-case>
>     is not surprising. This case, unlike most of the other campaign
>     finance cases the Court has taken in recent years, comes up on a
>     petition for cert. rather than on direct appeal. (This matters
>     because a decision to deny cert. means nothing, while the summary
>     affirmance of an appeal has precedential value). Plus, it is in
>     line with Roberts'faux judicial restraint/go slow
>     <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/04/the_subtle_awfulness_of_the_mccutcheon_v_fec_campaign_finance_decision_the.html>
>     approach.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60154&title=Breaking%3A%20Supreme%20Court%20Denies%20Cert%20in%20Corporate%20Contributions%20Case&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         Jost on McCutcheon <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60152>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:23 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60152> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Here.
>     <http://jostonjustice.blogspot.com/2014/04/court-opens-door-to-yet-more-money-in.html>
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60152&title=Jost%20on%20McCutcheon&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         "We Can Learn Something About 'Ingratiation and Access' from
>         Journalists" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60150>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:21 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60150> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     City Ethics blog.
>     <http://www.cityethics.org/content/we-can-learn-something-about-ingratiation-and-access-journalists>
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60150&title=%E2%80%9CWe%20Can%20Learn%20Something%20About%20%E2%80%98Ingratiation%20and%20Access%E2%80%99%20from%20Journalists%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
>
>
>         "Supreme Oligarchy" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60148>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:20 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60148> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     E.J. Dionne
>     <http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-jr-supreme-oligarchy/2014/04/06/823f15ea-bc2e-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html>
>     on /McCutcheon./
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60148&title=%E2%80%9CSupreme%20Oligarchy%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         "A Novel Proposal from Heather Gerken: Plus One More, Also
>         from Yale" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60146>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:18 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60146> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Bauer blogs.
>     <http://www.moresoftmoneyhardlaw.com/2014/04/novel-proposal-heather-gerken-plus-one-also-yale/>
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60146&title=%E2%80%9CA%20Novel%20Proposal%20from%20Heather%20Gerken%3A%20Plus%20One%20More%2C%20Also%20from%20Yale%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
>
>
>         "In Politics, Money is Speech"
>         <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60144>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:10 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60144> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Robert Samuelson
>     <http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-in-politics-money-is-speech/2014/04/04/075df4ec-bc18-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html?hpid=z5>WaPo
>     column.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60144&title=%E2%80%9CIn%20Politics%2C%20Money%20is%20Speech%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         "Big Money's Grip Stronger Than Ever"
>         <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60142>
>
>     Posted on April 7, 2014 7:09 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60142> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Politico reports
>     <http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/mccutcheon-supreme-court-big-money-105328.html?hp=r13>.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60142&title=%E2%80%9CBig%20Money%E2%80%99s%20Grip%20Stronger%20Than%20Ever%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
>
>
>         Dorf on McCutcheon <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60140>
>
>     Posted on April 6, 2014 9:11 pm
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60140> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Here <http://verdict.justia.com/2014/04/07/just-shy-bribery>, at
>     Justia.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60140&title=Dorf%20on%20McCutcheon&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         "Comptroller to Forgo Financing by Public"
>         <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60138>
>
>     Posted on April 6, 2014 8:02 pm
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60138> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     NYT:
>     <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/nyregion/comptroller-to-forgo-financing-by-public.html?_r=0>
>
>         Thomas P. DiNapoli, the state comptroller, is the first to
>         admit that what he plans to do is hypocritical.
>
>         But it is true: After decades spent calling for the public
>         financing of political campaigns, Mr. DiNapoli, a Democrat,
>         says he will opt out of a public financing system that New
>         York lawmakers have just enacted, in time for this fall's
>         elections.
>
>         Then again, Mr. DiNapoli says the new system is a badly
>         written, sloppy piece of legislation that was obviously rushed
>         into effect --- "a Frankenstein monster," he calls it --- and
>         he fears that it may actually have been designed to fail, by
>         lawmakers who either do not really believe in, or do not
>         understand, public campaign financing at all.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60138&title=%E2%80%9CComptroller%20to%20Forgo%20Financing%20by%20Public%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
>
>
>         "Floyd Abrams on the 'Disturbing Recurring Reality' of
>         Collective Liberty" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60136>
>
>     Posted on April 6, 2014 7:55 pm
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60136> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Josh Blackman blogs
>     <http://joshblackman.com/blog/2014/04/06/floyd-abrams-on-the-disturbing-recurring-reality-of-collective-liberty/>.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60136&title=%E2%80%9CFloyd%20Abrams%20on%20the%20%E2%80%98Disturbing%20Recurring%20Reality%E2%80%99%20of%20Collective%20Liberty%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         A Little Late Dept: "Plaintiff in Campaign-Finance Case
>         Supports Some Limits" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60134>
>
>     Posted on April 6, 2014 12:10 pm
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60134> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     WSJ reports.
>     <http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/04/06/plaintiff-in-campaign-finance-case-supports-some-limits/?mod=WSJBlog&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter>
>
>     Of course, what Shaun McCutcheon thinks about this is totally
>     irrelevant at this point.
>
>     I expect next the attack on soft money rules (to the extent new
>     "super committees" don't just lead to full soft money explosion)
>     before full attack on the base limits.
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60134&title=A%20Little%20Late%20Dept%3A%20%E2%80%9CPlaintiff%20in%20Campaign-Finance%20Case%20Supports%20Some%20Limits%E2%80%9D&description=>
>
>     Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>     Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
>
>
>         Two Tiered Voting Could Come to Kansas This Year if Stay
>         Granted in Kobach v. EAC Case
>         <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60132>
>
>     Posted on April 6, 2014 10:48 am
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60132> by Rick Hasen
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
>     Lots of uncertainty.
>     <http://m.ljworld.com/news/2014/apr/06/editorial-election-uncertainty/?templates=mobile&opinion=>
>
>     Share
>     <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60132&title=Two%20Tiered%20Voting%20Could%20Come%20to%20Kansas%20This%20Year%20if%20Stay%20Granted%20in%20Kobach%20v.%20EAC%20Case&description=>
>
>     Posted in election administration
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars
>     <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
>
>     -- 
>
>     Rick Hasen
>
>     Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
>
>     UC Irvine School of Law
>
>     401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
>
>     Irvine, CA 92697-8000
>
>     949.824.3072  <tel:949.824.3072>  - office
>
>     949.824.0495  <tel:949.824.0495>  - fax
>
>     rhasen at law.uci.edu  <mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>
>
>     hhttp://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/  <http://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/>
>
>     http://electionlawblog.org
>
>
>
> -- 
> Rick Hasen
> Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
> UC Irvine School of Law
> 401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
> Irvine, CA 92697-8000
> 949.824.3072  <tel:949.824.3072>  - office
> 949.824.0495  <tel:949.824.0495>  - fax
> rhasen at law.uci.edu  <mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>
> hhttp://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/  <http://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/>
> http://electionlawblog.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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