Metro

Bloomberg: Public financing won’t solve Albany’s scandal problem

Placing himself on the opposite side of Gov. Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg argued today that public financing won’t get rid of the corruption that pervades Albany.

“Public financing wouldn’t have cured anything,” the mayor declared on his weekly WOR radio show.

“What is clear is that they have a lot of corruption. Most of the things that have been in the paper would not be cured by that.”

Cuomo is supporting a measure modeled on the campaign finance system in New York City, where candidates for citywide office can’t accept contributions of more than $4,950. Those that abide by spending limits also receive a six-to-one match for each contribution up to $175.

Candidates for statewide office can take up to $41,100 from each donor in a general election.

Bloomberg, who spent more than $250 million from his own pocket to win three terms, conceded that the city’s system “does seem to work.”

“There’s some abuses,” he added. “Sometimes people get money when they don’t really have an opponent. It’s a little bit hard to implement.”

Although critics say he’s not pushing it hard enough, Cuomo has gone on record supporting public financing for state elections.

The biggest roadblock to enacting such is a system are state Senate Republicans, who have collected millions from Bloomberg over the years.

A study issued this week found the mayor gave $7.2 million to the so-called housekeeping accounts of political parties over the last six years, with most going to the Senate.

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Queens), who has proposed limiting individual contributions to as little as $5 under a total public financing model, blasted Bloomberg as a hypocrite.

“He’s been part of the problem,” charged Avella.

“It’s not the total solution,” he added, speaking of the taxpayer financing system. “It is one solution. The corruption begins and ends with the money.”

Steve Pampinella, a spokesman for the Fair Elections Coalition, said he wasn’t surprised by the mayor’s position.

“It’s great the mayor can make those comments because he profits from the existing system,” he said. “The line between legal bribery and illegal corruption is a very thin one.”

Asked for comment, the governor’s office provided statements he made earlier this week about the need for quick reform.

“There’s no doubt that campaign finance should be part of a reform package that’s done at this, at the end of this year, and this legislative session,” Cuomo said.