June

18, 2013 The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State The Honorable Sheldon Silver Speaker of the State Assembly The Honorable Dean Skelos Co-President of the State Senate The Honorable Jeffrey Klein Co-President of the State Senate NYS State Capitol Building Albany, New York 12224 Dear Governor Cuomo, Speaker Silver, Co-President Skelos, and Co-President Klein, As organizations representing a broad base of Americans in 39 states, we write to express our strong support for the passage of a comprehensive campaign finance reform package, including small donor public matching funds, for New York state elections. Though we are not New York based organizations, the adoption of a serious package of bold reforms in your state would be a would a major breakthrough in all of our efforts to ensure that the voices of regular people, not just wealthy donors, are heard in our political system. We are excited that many of you recognize the national importance of winning small- donor public matching funds. As the Governor said in March in a speech at a luncheon hosted by Brennan Center for Justice, the Committee for Economic Development, Americans for Campaign Reform, and NY LEAD: The exciting news is when you make a change in New York, it is a change that resonates across the country. We changed the marriage equality law. I saw within weeks the change reverberate across the country. People watch New York. Its not just another state. When New York does something, other states follow. While other states have passed modest changes in election laws in the past few years, a victory in New York State on real, systemic reform would be the first significant breakthrough passed since the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision. We are certain it would reverberate in statehouses across the land and in Congress, and could change how lawmakers and activists assess what is possible in the age of super PACs and big money donations in every corner of our nation. Thats why, working with together, you have an historic opportunity to give New Yorkers the campaign finance system they deserve and want. Alongside strong enforcement and limits on contributions, an alternative system based on public financing could make

fundraising at house parties filled with everyday people count as much as large contributions from vested interests. Without it, reform will certainly fail to meet one of its stated goals: reconnecting the people with their government by making the political process and politicians accountable to all citizens, not just big money donors. Americans of every stripe believe our democracy is broken. We want bold leadership to restore our government to one that is truly of, by, and for the people. We urge you-- and are watching to see you--fight for a victory in New York. When you win, it will be a victory celebrated far beyond your borders. Signed, Arizona Advocacy Network, Arizona Arizona PIRG, Arizona Arkansas Community Organization, Arkansas Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, California California Clean Money Campaign, California California Common Cause, California CALPIRG, California Consumer Action, California People Organized for Westside Renewal, California Colorado Common Cause, Colorado CoPIRG, Colorado Rights for All People, Colorado Common Cause Connecticut, Connecticut Connecticut Citizen Action, Connecticut ConnPIRG, Connecticut Common Cause Delaware, Delaware Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement, Delaware Community Business Association, Florida Florida Consumer Action Network, Florida Florida PIRG, Florida Florida Sierra Club, Florida Organize Now, Florida Common Cause Georgia, Georgia Georgia PIRG, Georgia Georgia Rural Urban Summit, Georgia Common Cause Hawaii, Hawaii United Action for Idaho, Idaho Action Now, Illinois Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, Illinois Citizen Action/Illinois, Illinois Common Cause Illinois, Illinois Illinois PIRG, Illinois

Lakeview Action Coalition, Illinois North Side People Organized to Work Educate and Reform, Illinois Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, Illinois Illinois and Indiana Regional Organizing Network, Illinois/Indiana Common Cause Indiana, Indiana Americans for Democratic Action - Iowa, Iowa Iowa Citizen Action Network, Iowa Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa IowaPIRG, Iowa Working Families Win - Iowa, Iowa Sunflower Community Action, Kansas Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky The Micah Project, Lousiana Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, Maine Maine People's Alliance, Maine Maine Women's Lobby, Maine Common Cause Maryland, Maryland Maryland Communities United, Maryland Maryland PIRG, Maryland Maryland Sierra Club, Maryland Progressive Maryland, Maryland Common Cause Massachusetts, Massachusetts MASSPIRG, Massachusetts Common Cause Michigan, Michigan Michigan Campaign Finance Network, Michigan Michigan Citizen Action, Michigan Michigan United, Michigan Common Cause Minnesota, Minnesota Take Action Minnesota, Minnesota Communities Creating Opportunity, Missouri Grass Roots Organizing, Missouri Jefferson City Congregations Uniting, Missouri Missouri Citizen Education Fund, Missouri Missouri Faith Voices, Missouri Missouri Jobs with Justice, Missouri Missouri PIRG, Missouri Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition, Missouri Missouri ProVote, Missouri Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, Missouri Common Cause Nebraska, Nebraska ACTIONN, Nevada Coalition for Open Democracy, New Hampshire New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action, New Hampshire New Hampshire PIRG, New Hampshire

New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey New Jersey Communities United, New Jersey New Jersey PIRG, New Jersey Common Cause New Mexico, New Mexico New Mexico PIRG, New Mexico Action North Carolina, North Carolina Common Cause North Carolina, North Carolina Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections, North Carolina Common Good Ohio, Ohio Communities United for Action, Ohio Ohio PIRG, Ohio Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Ohio ProgressOhio, Ohio Common Cause Oregon, Oregon Oregon Action, Oregon Action United, Pennsylvania Common Cause Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Keystone Progress, Pennsylvania Common Cause Rhode Island, Rhode Island Fuerza Laboral, Rhode Island Ocean State Action, Rhode Island Tennessee Citizen Action, Tennessee Clean Elections Texas, Texas Vermont PIRG, Vermont Virgina Sierra Club, Virginia Virginia Organizing, Virginia Fair Elections Seattle, Washington Puget Sound Sage, Washington Washington Community Action Network, Washington Washington Public Campaigns, Washington WashPIRG, Washington West Virginia Citizen Action Group, West Virginia West Virginia Citizens for Clean Elections, West Virginia West Virginia Environmental Council, West Virginia Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Common Cause Wisconsin, Wisconsin Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Wisconsin WISPIRG, Wisconsin 9 to 5, National Alliance for a Just Society, National Center for Community Change, National Leadership Center for the Common Good, National Main Street Alliance, National

National People's Action, National Partnership for Working Families, National USAction, National USPIRG, National