39 Diverse New York Organizations Call On Senate Majority Leader Schumer To Do “Everything In Your Power” To Pass S. 1 And Protect Public Financing Provisions In The Legislation
“As the coalition that fought for and won a public financing of elections program in New York State, we write specifically to urge that public financing of elections with small donor matching not be removed from the For the People Act in the final hour.”
Thirty-nine diverse New York organizations that led the fight to establish a public financing program in New York state elections today urged Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) to protect the small donor public matching system that is part of S. 1, the For the People Act.
In a letter, the groups called on Senator Schumer to stick to his commitment to keep public campaign financing with small donor matching in any amended bill. The groups also called for passage of the bill by the August recess.
The Washington Post reported yesterdaythat Senate Democrats are crafting a revised version of the legislation.
“[W]e see no reason that this critical program should disappear in any final bill; however, our experience with some publicly supportive New York State legislators resisting change when it mattered most will keep us on high alert until this fight is over,” the groups wrote in the letter to Senator Schumer. “We are counting on you, as Majority Leader, to ensure that public financing with small donor matching stays in.”
The letter highlights the on-the-record support of all 50 Senate Democrats, including Senator Joe Machin’s championing of the issue as Governor of West Virginia.
“Schumer is the best fundraiser the Democrats have,” Jess Wisneski, Co-Chair of the New York Working Families Party and Co-Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, said. “Will he shun big money and insist that public financing stays in? We have faith that he will. We need a democracy that works for all people, not just a wealthy few.”
“If public financing disappears from the bill, Senator Schumer and his conference, all of whom have voiced public support for this reform, will have no one else to blame,” Ricky Silver, Co-Lead Organizer at Empire State Indivisible, said.
The groups wrote in their letter to Schumer: “Please do everything you can to pass S. 1 by the August recess – including continuing to communicate loudly and consistently your intent to do so – and ensure that it is fully intact when it goes to President Biden’s desk for signing.”
The letter also called on Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to help champion the cause.
Read the full letter from the 39 New York organizations here.
