Yesterday, the "Clean Money, Clean Elections Act" (Intro 803) was introduced into the City Council. (The full version of the bill can be found on the Council's website here. Be warned -- it's a very, very long bill.) The bill was then sent to the Governmental Operations committee, as expected.

The fight to bring full public funding of elections to New York City is just starting. Lots of powerful people and organizations -- even some self-described "reformers" -- are aligned against it. This bill has a lot to overcome, especially the feeling, shared by many intelligent, thoughtful people, that the current system is "the best in the country."

Over the next days, weeks and months, I'll be posting some interesting facts about our current "matching fund" system, why it doesn't work, and how a system of full public funding does the job. (One tease: The current system is supposed to make small donations significantly important, while lessening the value of large donations. I am putting together the numbers that prove that this goal has not been met -- and those numbers will shock every supporter of the current system.) I'll also give updates on who has signed on in support of real campaign finance reform.

A major reform bill, like this one, is up against many, many obstacles. Foremost on the list is always the natural resistance people have to change, especially significant change. Our City Council members, even the better ones, share in this natural resistance, and will need prodding.

An explanation of how the current system fails to achieve its goals, and how this full public funding system works, is available on my website here. Stay tuned for further developments.

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