Dear New York MoveOn members,
What happens in the next seven days could make or break New York's democracy.
At the last minute, Governor Andrew Cuomo snuck language into an election reform package that could undermine ballot access for the Working Families Party (WFP), a key progressive ally that helps elect progressive Democrats in New York. This effort may be retribution for the campaign the WFP led to end the "Independent Democratic Conference"—a breakaway group of self-serving, conservative Democrats that was handing over control of the New York State Senate to the GOP for seven long years!
Will you join me in calling your state legislators to ensure that the Working Families Party is able to stay on the ballot?
Here's where to call:
Assembly Member Melissa Miller and Senator Todd Kaminsky
- Assm. Miller - (518) 455-3028
- Sen. Kaminsky - (518) 455-3401
(If, for some reason, the numbers above don't work, you can find up-to-date contact info for your representatives on the websites of the State Assembly and State Senate.)
Here's a sample script: "Hello, I am calling because the public financing commission is scheduled to release its report next week. I'm calling to ask you to make a public statement asking the commissioners to leave minor parties alone and instead focus on creating a strong public financing plan. Thank you!"
Want more details before you call? Read on.
Depending on what happens with New York's election reform package, New York could become a national model for clean, grassroots democracy—or we could take a massive step backwards and damage our democracy.
This spring, our state lawmakers in Albany passed legislation creating a commission empowered to design a robust system of public financing of elections, to end big money's stranglehold on state politics. That was a step in the right direction.
But the bad news is this: At the last minute, Gov. Cuomo inserted language into that legislation giving the commission broad powers to make other unilateral changes to our election system, including undermining ballot access for the Working Families Party.
The WFP's work to elect progressives plays a crucial role for progressives in New York politics. And their campaign to end the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) was a game-changer. For seven long years, although Democrats were elected to the majority of New York State Senate seats by voters, Republicans controlled the chamber. But, thanks to the WFP, not anymore.
Here's why we're worried. Jay Jacobs, Gov. Cuomo's appointee who is leading the commission, had been spending a lot more time pushing to destroy the WFP—perhaps to punish them for ending control of the IDC—than figuring out how to implement a strong system of public financing of elections. In fact, The New York Times recently reported on a secret plan of his that would effectively ban the WFP, but protect the right-wing Conservative Party—which would create a permanent structural advantage for the GOP in New York!1
It's all coming to a head in the next seven days. The commission is due to release its report before Thanksgiving. And the decisions it makes are likely to be binding.
The commissioners are making up their minds right now. So we need to make sure they hear loud and clear from the legislators who appointed them: We need a strong system of public financing, and we will not allow the commission to be used as a weapon to settle political scores against progressives.
Will you join me in making a phone call to your state legislators?
This spring, our state lawmakers in Albany passed legislation creating a commission empowered to design a robust system of public financing of elections, to end big money's stranglehold on state politics. That was a step in the right direction.
But the bad news is this: At the last minute, Gov. Cuomo inserted language into that legislation giving the commission broad powers to make other unilateral changes to our election system, including undermining ballot access for the Working Families Party.
The WFP's work to elect progressives plays a crucial role for progressives in New York politics. And their campaign to end the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) was a game-changer. For seven long years, although Democrats were elected to the majority of New York State Senate seats by voters, Republicans controlled the chamber. But, thanks to the WFP, not anymore.
Here's why we're worried. Jay Jacobs, Gov. Cuomo's appointee who is leading the commission, had been spending a lot more time pushing to destroy the WFP—perhaps to punish them for ending control of the IDC—than figuring out how to implement a strong system of public financing of elections. In fact, The New York Times recently reported on a secret plan of his that would effectively ban the WFP, but protect the right-wing Conservative Party—which would create a permanent structural advantage for the GOP in New York!1
It's all coming to a head in the next seven days. The commission is due to release its report before Thanksgiving. And the decisions it makes are likely to be binding.
The commissioners are making up their minds right now. So we need to make sure they hear loud and clear from the legislators who appointed them: We need a strong system of public financing, and we will not allow the commission to be used as a weapon to settle political scores against progressives.
Will you join me in making a phone call to your state legislators?
Here's where to call:
Assembly Member Melissa Miller and Senator Todd Kaminsky
- Assm. Miller - (518) 455-3028
- Sen. Kaminsky - (518) 455-3401
Thank you!
—Justin, Allison, Michael, Chris, and the rest of the team
Source:
1. "Democrats' Secret Plan to Kill Third Parties in New York," The New York Times, October 29, 2019
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