Your Vote vs. Their Money
For many years, New York State politics has been a new version of the popular board game, Monopoly. The winners in the game are the politicians who go around the board and collect the most special interest money. Significant power and influence in state government comes from these special interests who dole out huge chunks of campaign funds to buy that influence. It's a simple equation - the bigger the contributor, the more the influence. If you happen to call your state legislator, your phone call is competing with hundreds of lobbyists' calls for you're his or her attention. And there are hundreds of lobbyists, not only from New York State, but from around the country and around the globe, each with a pocketful of money to buy their agenda at your expense.
So who are these special interests? These lobbyists represent everyone from well-known industries and organizations to narrowly focused and radical religious groups. One of the major lobbyists, for example, Philip Morris doled out $613,000 to lobbyists for a "voice" in Albany. The biggest spenders are doctors, lawyers, hospitals and unions. In the year 2000 alone Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield spent $1.2 million on lobbying, topping the list in New York State. Ten lobbying firms made at least $1.05 million dollars legally pedaling influence.
The amount of money spent
to influence Lawmakers over the past 22 years:
|
| 1978: |
$5.7 million |
| 1988: |
$22.1 million |
| 1996: |
$49.1 million |
| 1997: |
$51.4 million |
| 1998: |
$55 million |
| 1999: |
$71.9 million |
| 2000: |
$66.3 million |
| Source: New York Temporary State Commission on Lobbying |
A lot of people think there is nothing wrong with lobbying, and up to a reasonable point they are right. Unfortunately, all too often, these big spending special interests virtually dictate the lawmaker's agenda in Albany. The guy on the street without an organization and without big dollars - medical patients, utility consumers, people who pay the insurance premiums and the just plain poor get lost in the special interest shuffle.
Jack Cheevers believes everyone deserves a voice in Albany including the lobbyist. But when that voice is constantly abused as it is by the big money special interests, itıs time to set up a few restrictions so the that average New Yorker at last gets a chance to be heard.
Help Jack Cheevers Fix Albany and Save New York.
Support and vote Jack Cheevers for Governor in 2002.
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