Feburary 4, 2025 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2026. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.
October 8, 2024 - Today, Citizens Union and seven other groups issued the following statement in response to numerous questions about the New York City public matching program since Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. According to the U.S. Attorney, foreign nationals used straw donors to make illegal campaign contributions to Eric Adams.
September 27, 2024 - Testimony to the New York City Campaign Finance Board about proposed 2024 Rule Amendments, in which Citizens Union proposes three comments on the proposed new factors for determining whether an expenditure is independent and the proposed requirement to maintain a website and social media site
April 19, 2024 – Testimony on bills regarding prohibitions lobbying in connection with campaign-related fundraising or political consulting, the city’s post-employment restrictions, and other proposed reforms in lobbying oversight and enforcement.
April 9, 2024 – Citizens joins over a dozen groups in opposition for proposed legislation that would make significant changes to the public campaign finance law before the existing public matching law is used for the first time in an election.
February 6, 2024 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2025. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.
December 27, 2023 - The bill Governor Hochul has vetoed ran counter to the goals of the landmark program. This decision means the state’s public campaign finance program will continue to amplify the voices of everyday New Yorkers.
December 15, 2023 - Citizens Union urges he Governor to sign the bill that would requirements for foreign and domestic limited liability companies (LLCs) in New York State to publicly disclose their “beneficial owners."
December 7, 2023 - Citizens Union joins the Fair Elections coalition in a statement urging Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to provide at least $59.5 million for the Public Campaign Finance Program in the state’s next budget.
June 7, 2023 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the state legislature introducing a bill that would fundamentally alter New York State’s public campaign finance program:
Feburary 28, 2023 - The Let New York Vote Coalition submitted a letter to NYS Legislative leaders, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie, outlining our coalition’s budget priorities in FY 2023-24.
February 15, 2023 - Testimony for the 2023 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing, Local Government and General Government, regarding the the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board and the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying
Today Governor Hochul introduced her FY 2024 executive budget. It includes $39.5 million for the state’s voluntary small donor match…
February 1, 2023 - Citizens Union has issued to following statement from executive director Betsy Gotbaum in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY2024 executive budget, which was released earlier today
January 5, 2023 - Citizens Union joined over 100 voting, racial justice, labor, and good government groups to urge Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie to continue leading on voting, election administration, and campaign finance reforms in the 2023 legislative session.
December 16, 2022 - Yesterday the New York State Public Campaign Finance Board voted on its budget request for FY 2023–2024. The board’s commissioners approved a request totaling $114.5 million, including $100 million for future matching funds for participating campaigns and $14.5 million for program administration. The new program launched on November 9 and will provide public matching funds to participating candidates for state offices beginning with the 2024 legislative elections.
December 13, 2022 - Memorandum of Support for Preconsidered Intro. T2022-2607A, Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring disclosure of the identity of contributors to entities making independent expenditures in support of or in opposition to any municipal ballot proposal or referendum
March 2022 - Group letter to the State Legislature to reform campaign finance oversight in New York, particularly in regards to the work of the Chief Enforcement Counsel and its relation with the State Board of Elections
November 26, 2021 - a memorandum of opposition to Int 2429-2021, A local law to amend the New York City Charter, in relation to the budget of the Campaign Finance Board, which would reduce the budgetary independence of the Campaign Finance Board
October 19, 2021 - Memorandum of Opposition to Intro. No. 0034-2018, A Local Law to amend the New York City Charter, in relation to the use of government resources during an election campaign. which would reduce the blackout period for sending official mass-mailings prior to an election
April 1, 2020 - Citizen’s Union, New York City’s leading good government group, issued the following statement on the passing of Father Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J:
December 18, 2019 - We urge the State Legislature to reconvene and reject proposals put forth by the New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission
The purpose of campaign finance reform is to reduce the influence of large contributions in our political system, to encourage…