Common Cause/NY Applauds Buffalo Common Council for Passing Fair Elections Resolution

Buffalo Common Council passes resolution to establish task-force to explore public financing of elections

NEW YORK, NY (05/27/2014)(readMedia)-- Today the Buffalo Common Council introduced and approved a resoultion to establish a task-force to explore setting up a practical system of public financing of elections in the City of Buffalo.

In response, Common Cause/NY Executive Director, Susan Lerner, issued the following statement:

"The Buffalo Common Council has achieved what the New York State Legislature could not: a significant step toward a meaningful system of public financing of elections. Public financing holds public officials accountable to the people who elect them, not big donors who line their pockets. Common Cause/NY applauds Buffalo lawmakers, Majority Leader Demone Smith and CM Golombek in particular, for prioritizing the public interest, and working to empower voters to participate fully in our democracy."

Background

The Fair Elections resolution establishes a task-force of Buffalo residents, representing various organizations, to develop a "plan for a public finance system" for elected positions in the City of Buffalo.