Good for Spitzer
"He's setting a great example," said state Senator Martin Connor of Eliot Spitzer's self-imposed campaign contributions limits and attendance at fund-raisers.
But the great example, Connor made clear, isn't for him.
"This doesn't apply to me. No, we'd have to change the law. None of this applies to legislators," Connor said.
"Realistically, this executive order doesn't even apply to the state comptroller or attorney general."
Connor, who was in a tight primary race this year, did say that he'd happy to adhere to a $10,000 campaign contribution limit, which would be an increase from what state Senators and Assembly members can currently accept.
-- Azi Paybarah
state senators who face a primary challenge can take $13,900 ($5,400 for the primary and $8,500 for the general). Connor faced a primary challenge.
also, ALL of the limits will be raised automatically in late januray/early february. by my rough calculations they will all be increased by approximately 11%.
so the NEW senate limit will probably be a hair over $15k.
$13,900 is less than $10 grand if the only serious competition you face is in the primary.
Spitzer would have set a better example if he had done it in this campaign where he outspent his opponent 10 to 1. Now that he's in power, he'll get all the free media he needs, and his opponents will be at a disadvantage. Some reformer.
you know marty's car has awfully high maintenance costs azi.
Azi left off the rest of my statement to him. After I said that the executive order doesn't apply to legislators, etc., I said "that's why we need to keep pushing for a campaign finance reform bill."