Cuomo: Without Public Financing, Senate Coalition A Failure

Nick Reisman

A conclusion to the legislative session without the passage of public financing would mean the coalition of Republicans and five independent Democrats in the state Senate is a “failure,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday said.

At the same time, Cuomo pledged to “act accordingly” in helping Democrats reclaim power in the chamber, a move that would help the governor shore up support among the liberal base of the party as well as help him obtain the Working Families Party ballot line when the party meets on Saturday.

Nevertheless, Cuomo is skeptical a public financing package will ultimately pass the chamber.

“I am pessimistic today that public finance will pass, but it’s not over,” Cuomo said at a bill signing ceremony on Staten Island. “We have a few more weeks of the session and we’ll see what happens. But if they do not pass public finance, I will consider the coalition a failure. I have said that and will repeat that and I will act accordingly.”

http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2014/05/cuomo-without-public-financing-senate-coalition-a-failure/