Our state government has operated under the time-honored system of Cash is King for well over a hundred years. Everyone knows this.
The average rank-and-file state legislator charges $250 per person to attend one of their fundraisers while those in leadership positions want $500-1000. Event sponsorships I have seen go for as high as $5000.
Knowing this, the Daily News reports, “Indie N.Y. Democrats reject donations from pro-gun group“:
“… The campaign committee for a group of eight breakaway state Senate Democrats and its leader both received $1,000 donations last August from a major pro-gun lobby group. But campaign finance records show the Senate Independence Campaign Committee returned the contribution weeks after receiving it from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a leading firearms industry trade association …”
The idea that NSSF could grease the wheels of justice has lots of precedence in Albany. They just did it in a bad way and on the cheap.
First, to avoid controversy, the donations should have been made closer to the primary or general election so they are publicly disclosed after election day.
Second, to maximize impact, NSSF should have done some research to determine which of these guys is in the most trouble back home and maxed out their donations right before the primary when the incumbents need help the most.
Third, if they insist on kissing up to Jeff Klein, they need to come up with more money. Klein is a piece of crap and definitely not their friend.