[mewzilla]

He's pushing a bill that would expand the 4-1 matching funds, i.e. welfare for politicians, received by candidates by the Campaign finance board at the behest-SURPRISE-of the unions that bankroll him and are pushing him for Speaker of the City Council.

Wow.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

The one dissenting vote at the morning hearing came from Madeline T. Provenzano, a Democrat who represents the Bronx's 13th District. "It's a bad bill," Provenzano said after the vote. "If we limit lobbyists, why should we allow unions to give away all the money they want?"

The bill's supporters, including chair Bill Perkins, framed the issue in terms of voter's rights. At the hearing, Perkins called the CFB's current rules "unduly burdensome on campaigns" and urged his fellow committee members to vote in the bill's favor. He went on to say that if the bill is not passed "the democratic process will be diminished, it will be hampered" and faulted the CFB for the "erroneous presumption that all affiliated unions represent a single source."

Brian M. McLaughlin, president of the New York City Central Labor Council, testified at the hearing that passing the bill would mean giving "working people" a "voice in the political process."

"This is about free speech," Council Member Bill deBlasio, one of the bill's sponsors, told the committee. DeBlasio is currently campaigning to become the next speaker of the council and is courting labor support.

http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/powerplays/archives/002073.php