Corruption scandals are lighting fire underneath growing push for NY campaign finance reform. A recent article by Robert McCarthy looks at the group of lawmakers behind the renewed push:

As a long line of state legislators faces indictments and possibly prison time for a host of infractions, a key group of senators believes that the corruption developments of recent weeks create an ideal climate to achieve New York’s first real campaign finance reform in years. The Independent Democratic Conference, part of a coalition with Republicans that comprises the Senate majority, sponsored a hearing in Erie County Hall on Monday aimed at building support for a top-to-bottom overhaul of political campaign financing in New York State.

If the group, headed by Sen. Jeffrey D. Klein of the Bronx, gets it way, new rules that drastically restrict contributions and impose new directives on how campaigns are financed – while also introducing the concept of public financing – could reduce the role of big money in state campaigns.

Some skepticism on the proposals of Governor Cuomo from the Gotham Gazette:

Politically, Cuomo may not be able to carry the load of public financing. His poll numbers have dipped this year as he pushed through gun control laws and has taken more liberal policy stances.

As much as Cuomo may push the IDC to convince the Senate Republicans, the IDC doesn’t have much recourse for retaliation since they are even less likely now to leave the Republicans with key Senate Democrats possibly facing corruption investigations. The IDC, of course, already had to deal with its association with Smith.

Without functional support in the Senate, Cuomo will be left getting the scraps the Legislature throws him. Still, the governor has made it clear he just wants legislators to act on something — anything — to reassure the public.