Tish James, Steinem Call for Public Financing

An email going out today from New York City Public Advocate Letitia James and feminist icon Gloria Steinem asks roughly 200,000 New Yorkers to sign a petition calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to insist that public financing of elections stay in the state budget this year.

“Passing public financing of elections into law would help fix Albany,” James and Steinmen write. “Governor Cuomo has included it in his proposed budget. Will you join us in telling the Governor that we must KEEP public financing in the budget and enact it into law?”

The email argues that public financing would pave the way for more women to get elected, which in turn could make it easier to pass legislation “for women,” such as the Women’s Equality Act and paid family leave.

The reason for the lack of progress on certain bills “is simple and shameful—women make up less than 20 percent of the State Legislature,” they write. “Our voice is being drowned out by big-dollar donors who rule the roost in Albany’s “pay-to-play” politics—often just a backroom of men.”

The Assembly included public financing in its budget resolution, while the state Senate included vague language that would “modify” the governor’s proposal. 

The full text of the email is below:

Friend, 

It's no secret why Albany has failed women lately.

No Women's Equality Act. No increased protections from sexual harassment. No paid family leave or improved access to child care.

And the reason is simple and shameful – women make up less than 20 percent of the State Legislature. Our voice is being drowned out by big-dollar donors who rule the roost in Albany’s “pay-to-play” politics--often just a backroom of men.

With money lining the corridors of power, women don't get the opportunity to speak for us. But public financing of campaigns empowers women and helps more of us get elected. 

Passing public financing of elections into law would help fix Albany. Governor Cuomo has included it in his proposed budget. Will you join us in telling the Governor that we must KEEP public financing in the budget and enact it into law?

Nearly 200 women leaders from across the country signed a letter to the Governor last week calling for him to act because the facts are clear: nearly every state with public financing of elections has more women as state representatives than the national average. One of us is even a personal testament to the power of voter-owned politics—there would be no Public Advocate Tish James without the City's system of matching funds. 

Public financing of elections works--for New York and for women. 

Imagine a New York where dozens of progressive women were elected to public office across the state and led us on a path to real change. Few articulated that vision more passionately than Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman in Congress who fearlessly inspired a generation of women to reach higher. 

But to actually elevate our daughters above the moneyed voices of today's Wall Street CEOs and wealthy corporations, we need to crack open the door for women with public financing.

Sign here to stand with women across New York in calling for Governor Cuomo to enact public financing into law.

In solidarity,

Tish James and Gloria Steinem