This is a good sign
Count me as bit of a skeptic about the whole Spitzer-Patterson Golden Age of Enlightenment that everyone seems to be expecting. But this is a good sign:
Eliot Spitzer just announced that he will “unilaterally disarm†on campaign fundraising tactics to set a tone for political reform going forward in New York.
Mr. Spitzer said he and the incoming lieutenant governor, David Paterson, will voluntarily restrict campaign donations that they receive. Specifically, they will limit contributions from individuals, partnerships, LLCs, unions, PACS, and other non-corporate entities to $10,000. The limit is now $50,100, one of the highest in the nation.
(snip)
Mr. Spitzer said it was perfectly appropriate to raise money the way he did as a candidate, under the old rules, and now to propose a new way forward on fundraising.
“What we are doing is trying to change the paradigm, and by changing the paradigm and leading by example and saying to the legislature, this is the way we believe state government should function,†Mr. Spitzer said. “I’m not looking back and saying that behavior that didn’t live up to these standards was inappropriate — we’re just saying, this is the standard we want to apply.â€
Let’s hope this is just the beginning. If we can fix the worst campaign finance laws in the country, then maybe we can redistrict the most gerrymandered state legislature in the country, and after that — I’m still not holding out much hope for this one, I’ll admit — possibly begin reforming the most dysfunctional state government in the country. Stranger things have happened, though I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
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