Washington, D.C.—National campaign finance watchdog Public Campaign applauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address today, in which he pledged to make fixing our broken political system a top priority in the coming year.

"Gov. Cuomo is right that New Yorkers deserve to have an equal voice in our political process. By proposing a system that emphasizes the voice of small donors in our elections, he'll do just that," said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign. "Gov. Cuomo's leadership on this issue will help to restore our government to one that is truly of, by, and for the people."

In his remarks, as prepared, Gov. Cuomo said that, "It's time we make sure that all New Yorkers have an equal 
voice in our political process. Therefore, it is imperative that 
we implement real campaign finance reform and provide citizens with a voice in the very foundation of democracy — 
the ballot box," and that "First, we must achieve fundamental campaign finance 
reform by implementing a system of public funding of elections." (Full remarks here.)

"The American people are tired of elections sold to the highest bidder and Gov. Cuomo and the New York legislature can show Congress and statehouses across the country that there is a better, more accountable, and more fair way," continued Nyhart.

"The Occupy movement has inspired a national conversation that puts focus squarely on the destructive role of money in politics," said Karen Scharff, executive director of Citizen Action of New York. "Public financing of elections has proven to be an effective system to increase public participation in our political system and make elected officials more accountable to their constituents, rather than big corporations, lobbyists, and high donors."

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Public Campaign is a national nonpartisan organization that fights to raise the voices of everyday people in our democracy through changing our campaign finance laws and through holding elected officials accountable. Learn more at www.publicampaign.org.