Sen. Proposes Law To Strip Campaign Funds From Felon Politicians

Sen. Todd Kaminksy is putting forward legislation that would require state politicians who are convicted of felonies to dispose of their campaign funds, something they currently don't have to do.

The legislation would give politicians convicted of felonies two years to dispose of their campaign funds. Under current law, though politicians lose their seats, they can keep their campaign funds, which they can spend for many things, including legal fees. According to Kaminsky, over the past 15 years, 20 state politicians have served time in jail, but have not had to give up their campaign funds.

“If a candidate betrays the public’s trust, he should not be allowed to dole out campaign cash to his cronies from a jail cell,” said Kaminsky. “As a former federal prosecutor, I saw firsthand how corrupt government officials not only steal taxpayers’ hard-earned money, but their right to honest representation as well. It’s time we end these zombie accounts.”

Kaminsky was joined by freshman Assemblymember Judy Griffin and Common Cause/NY to announce the legislation. Under the law, the campaign funds could be returned in four ways:

1. Return, prorated, to each contributor the funds that have not been spent or obligated;
2. Donate funds to a charitable organization;
3. Donate funds to the State University of New York or the City University of New York systems;
4. Donate to the State's general fund.

“Once an elected official has betrayed the public’s trust, he should be stripped of his power — campaign cash is no exception,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY. “In Albany, money equals power, and if someone is behind bars on corruption charges, he shouldn’t be allowed to hold onto donations meant for campaigning. Simple as that."

Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos surrendered himself to federal prison today. And according to Kaminsky, he has more than $40,000 in an active campaign committee named “Friends for the Election of Dean Skelos.” Former Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was sentenced in July, has more than $100,000 in a still active “Friends of Silver” account and more than $400,000 in his “SpeakerPAC.” Former Senator Carl Kruger, who was sentenced to jail in April 2012, still has more than $400,000 in an active “Friends of Carl” account. Kruger, Silver and Skelos have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of their campaign cash on legal services.

In 2016, the state legislature enacted a wind-down provision for campaign accounts still maintained when a candidate or elected official dies. This legislation would expand the current law and close the loophole making it applicable to any campaign account or elected official who is found guilty of a felony.

Photo courtesy Todd Kaminsky's Office