Wagner Proposes Series of Campaign, Ethics Reforms for State Officials
State Senate candidate Justin Wagner unveiled a proposal for comprehensive ethics and campaign finance reform for state government Tuesday afternoon in Lewisboro.
Joined by Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-White Plains), who has sponsored legislation to strip public pensions from officials who abuse their positions, Wagner called for stiffer penalties for officials who violate the public’s trust. Wagner said the fact that corrupt politicians are currently able to keep their pensions is representative of everything that is wrong in Albany.
“The way Albany has worked when it comes to ethics and when it comes to campaign finance is not working for regular, middle class New Yorkers or residents of the Hudson Valley,” Wagner said. “It is really a cesspool of corruption.”
Buchwald’s legislation fell a few votes shy of Senate approval earlier this year. Wagner pledged to support the measure if he defeats his Republican opponent, Yorktown Councilman Terrence Murphy, in November for the 40th Senate District seat.
“I’m someone who has always stood for making sure that public officials do the people’s work, rather than put their own interests first,” Buchwald said. “I’m so pleased to have…Justin Wagner here today to pledge not just to support that piece of legislation but a range of ethics legislation making sure New Yorkers can be proud of their state government.”
Wagner proposed an independent ethics enforcement agency to oversee the legislature. In the past, those investigating alleged misconduct would report to the same officials they were supposed to be scrutinizing.
The Croton Democrat also called for campaign policy reform that would reduce the amount of money that can be given to a public official. Under current law, individuals can give up to $16,000 to a state Senate campaign while Presidential campaign donations are capped at just $2,500. Wagner said that this policy diminishes constituents’ voices because wealthy people have greater influence in the political process.
“All of these things are undermined by a pay-to-play culture where big money has more influence than the average Joe, and that’s why it’s so important that we enact these kinds of reforms,” he said.
Wagner also proposed the introduction of a public matching fund for small dollar donations for those with political aspirations. He hopes that this initiative would empower people to seek office who may not have the same access to resources as many incumbent candidates.
Furthermore, the fund would make campaigns fairer and more competitive.
“The most frustrating thing for people looking to run for public office is the simple truth that elections are expensive,” Wagner said. “And for most people who have good ideas who want to run for public office, the dream dies at that first meeting with their consultant and campaign manager, when they say ‘You’ve got to raise half a million dollars.’”
Wagner also called for tighter regulations and full disclosure of how funds are used. He noted that one Albany legislator used campaign dollars to renovate his swimming pool, justifying the expenditure by saying that’s where he held campaign fundraisers. Currently, candidates have too much latitude to claim campaign expenses under the law, Wagner said.
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