By LAWRENCE NORDEN and CHISUN LEE for New York Daily News:

Death by commission. That’s what cynics are saying about a new law passed in Albany as part of the budget, which mandates creation of a statewide system public financing of elections, but leaves most of the details of that reform in the hands of an appointed panel.

For now, death by commission is only a pessimistic prediction. We’re cynics about Albany, too, but the weeks before the budget vote showed that the press, New Yorkers and Washington policymakers are watching what happens with public financing. As long as that attention remains, our elected officials will find it difficult not to follow through.

The purpose of the new law is to incentivize candidates to seek small donations rather than chase big checks from lobbyists and special interests, and to encourage qualified candidates to compete regardless of their access to big donors. The nine-member commission has until December to develop a small-donor public financing program that will do this. Its recommendations will become law unless the Legislature makes changes within 20 days.

Full article is found here.