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S100:00 Soourformattypewouldbethreequestions.Whataretheprinciplesandelementsof

agoodUSelectionsystemandalsohereinNewYork?Whatarethebiggestproblems?Andwhatareourbiggestopportunities?We'llbetalkingthroughthelensofNewYorkaswellasthefederallens.Tomwillbespeakingtoyouattimesandourspeakersaretheexpertsindifferentversionsofthat.Mygoalistosayaslittleaspossiblefromhereonoutandjustguidethesetrulyall-starexpertsthatwe'vegatheredtogether.Beforewestart,I'llaskthemtointroducethemselvesverybriefly,maybe30seconds,alittlemoreifyouneedit.AndAnn'sgoingtobedroppingoutalittlebitearlytonightbecauseshe'sgottogetbacktoWashingtonforameetinginthemorning.It'snotbecauseshecan'tsitnexttoJimanymore[laughter].

S200:41 Thankyouverymuch.It'sgreattoseeyouall.I'mAnnRavelandI'mtheCommissionerontheFederalElectionCommission.[inaudible]

S300:53 Thankyou.I'mJimBopp,I'malawyerinIndiana.I'vebeenacampaignfinancelawyerfor40years.Ibroughtmorethan150firstamendmentchallengestocampaignfinance,blogs,suingtheSECabouttwodozentimes,andwehaveabigonependingrightnow,andabout40space.And13ofmycaseshavebeendecidedonthemeritsbytheUSSupremeCourtandone,including[?]Citizentrial.

S401:31 TrevorPotter.I'mpresidentoftheCampaignLegalCenter,anon-profitinWashingtonthatworksoncampaignfinanceandelectionissues.I'mtheformerchairmanoftheFederalElectionCommission.JimandIhavelinkeduponoppositesidesofarangeofcases.SomeI'vewon,somehe'swon,andwe'rebothwonderingwhatthefutureholdsforus.

S501:57 [inaudible]I'mRichardBriffault.IteachatColumbiaLawSchool.TheareasIteacharethepoliticalprocess,legalcampaignfinance,votingrights,redistricting.Ialsohappentoserveasthechairofthecity'sConflictsofInterestBoard.AndIwasalsoontheill-fatedNewYorkStateMorelandActCommissiontoInvestigatePublicCorruption.

S602:20 Hieveryone,mynameisJonReznick.I'mthefounderofCompetitiveAdvantageResearch,whichismysmallcivictechpoliticalresearchshopwherewebasicallyaerosoloutthiscampaignfinancedataandsprayitbackinpoliticians'faces[laughter].

S702:38 MynameisGustavoRivera.Iapologizeforthevoice,becauselastnightIwonaprimaryandthenIdidkaraokeafterwards[laughter].Notthebestchoice.[applause]

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I'mastatesenatorintheBoogieDownBronx.Yeah,right,I'msorryandI'vebeeninthesenateforsixyearsanditis--I'mveryhappyI'm[?]today.Likemanyotherthings,thisstuffhasalwaysbeen,excuseme,[?]financechangesthatweneed,butalsobecauselastnight,Ibeatmyopponentof61-30,whateveritwas.Anditwasanopponentthatgotabout$750,000fromthe[?]pouredintothedistrictfromoutsidesources.AlloutsideofNewYork,outsidetheBronx.SoI'mbothveryproudofthat,butveryproudofwhatalotthesefolkshavedonetomakesurethatwechangethesystemsoverall[?].

S803:43 I'mAmyLoprest.I'mtheexecutivedirectoroftheNewYorkCityCampaignFinanceboardandforyouNewYorkCityresidents,werunprobablythebestpublicfinancingsysteminthecountry.Wematchedpublicsixtoonefunds,contributionsfromlowdollardonorsinNewYorkCity,anddooutreachandeducation,andhearalotinprobablyeverysingleoneoftheissuesthatwasquestionedabouttoday.SoI'mreallyexcitedtotalkaboutthis.

S104:11 Wonderful.So,let'sstartwithAnnandJames.Maybeyoucanstartusoffwithwhataretheprinciplesandelementsofagoodelectionsystem?Andafteryougothroughthe--ourmembersofthepanelshouldjustfeelfreetojumpin,andwe'llgoforabout15to20minutesonthis.

S204:27 Well,firstoff,Ithinkit'simportanttotalkaboutwhatthefocusofanyoftherulesandregulationsforacontinued[?]inourcase,andin[?],andit'sessentiallytoensuretrustinthegovernment,andalsotoallowpeopletoparticipate.Andparticipationinmyviewisn'tlimitedtovoting.It'salsorunningforoffice.Ialsothinkitneedstobetransparentinthesenseofprovidinginformationtothepublicsotheycanmakegooddecisionswhentheyvote,andalsoareableto[?]aboutthat,whichistoassurethatthereisn'tanycorruptioninthesystem.Thatmeans,ofcourse,notjusttherulesbutthatthere'sanenforcementofthoserules.

S305:23 Well,Ithinktheanswertothatquestionwouldbetogobacktobasics.Ourformofgovernmentwascreatedinordertobeself-governing.Inotherwords,eachofuswastogovernourselves,wewoulddothatintwoways:bythefreedomthatwehaveinAmericatochooseourowncourseinlife,butsecondlybyelectingrepresentativestoalimitedformofgovernmenttobeauthorizedtodocertainthingsonourbehalf.Now,toguaranteetheparticipationofcitizens,wethenhavetheFirstAmendment,whicharethefourindispensableDemocraticfreedoms.Withoutthemcitizensarenotgoingtobeabletoeffectivelyparticipate.

S306:05 Andwhatarethosefour?There'sspeech,press,assembly,andtherighttopetitionthegovernment.Sobaseduponthatformofgovernment,whatweshouldlookatiswhetherandhowfreeisoursystem.Howfreearepeopleabletoparticipatewithouthavinggovernmentregulatorsoverlookingthem,enforcinglawsagainstthem,makingthemreporttothegovernment,andthereforestiflingtheirparticipation?Well,we'vegottoomuchofthat.Wehavehundredsofpagesoffederallaws.Wehavethousandsofpagesoffederalregulations.Morethousandsofthousandsofadvisoryopinions

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enforcingtheiractions,federalcourtdecisionsthatmeanyou'vegottohirealawyeroranaccountanttoparticipateinpolitics.Numbertwoisthepurposewastopreventgovernmentbecauseyouhaveincumbentspassinglawsthatregulatethemostimportantthingthattheycareabout,whichistheirownelection.Youcanguaranteethatwhentheypassalawthey'regoingtomakesureitbenefitsthem,andiftheycanevengofather,theycangetpartisanbenefitoutofthelaw.Sothefirstamendmentwastopreventthosetwoproblemsfromaffectingoursystembecauseotherwiseitwoulddrivepeople,participantsawayfromthepoliticalsystem,andnoquestioninmymindthatthatisthesituationonthat.

S407:39 IwouldagreewithJimthatthepremiseofoursystemisarepresentationalgovernmentanditisbasedontheabilityofcitizenstoparticipate.Forme,oneoftheproblemswehavetodayisbarrierstocitizenparticipationandasensebymanycitizenswhohavebeenleftoutintheprocess.WhetheritisthatincumbentpoliticiansaredrawingtheirlinesandredistrictingsothatyouhavethebizarresituationthatmembersofCongressarechoosingtheirvoters,ratherthanvoterschoosingtheirmembersbecausetheytakefancycomputersanddecidewhotheywantintheirdistricttopickthepeoplewhowillvotefororagainstthem.Thenyouhavesimplytheabilityofcitizenstoparticipateintheprocessasregisteredvoters,allthefightsgoingoninaveryold-fashionedsystem.Muchofwhatwedotoday[?]goesback200yearstowhenwewerefoundedandwehaven'tupdatedalotovertheyears.

S408:51 Whereasnewdemocracies,followingouradvice,wesendout--ourgovernmentsendsoutteamsofpeopletotellyouhowtodoitright.LookattheeasternEuropeancountriesthatwerestartingnewdemocraciesanewinthe1990sandtheyhaveautomaticvoterregistration,sothegovernmentsjobistomakesurecitizensareregisteredandcanvote.Theyhavenonpartisanvotingofficials.Theyhaveraisedthedrawnlinesthatarenonpartisan,soitisn'tamatterofwhichpartyisinpower,you'rechoosingwherethoseare.Youhavetheabilityofaveragecitizenstoparticipatethroughcitizenfunding,meaningthatyoudon'tjusthavebillionairestalkingtoeachother.Yououghttohavefulldisclosureofthesourcesofmoney.OurSupremeCourthassaidit'simportantforpeopletoknowwhoisspeakingandfundingthatspeech.

S409:53 Andalotofthiswejustdon'thave,partlybecausewehavehabitsofdoingthings,andwehaven'tupdatedthosehabits.Andpartlybecausewehavepartisandeadlock,whereonepartyortheotherthinksit'stotheiradvantagetoleavethingsastheyare,ormakeitdifficulttovote,difficulttoregister.Andthosearethings,Ithink,thatweneedtoaddresstohaveabettersystem.

S510:18 LetmejustpickuponacoupleofTrevor'spoints.Iknowthattheotherstalkedmoreaboutcampaignfinancing.Ithinkthatwouldbeatthebeginning,justthekeythingsthatenablepeopletoconvincevoters.BecauseifyouthinkaboutifthegreatarcofAmericanhistory.Perhapsoneofthegreateststruggleswasthattomakesure[?]beganinasocietywherethe[?]waslimited.Andnotjustbygenderandbyraceand[?]statusbutbywealth[laughter],[inaudible]byabilitytopaytaxes,payland

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ownershipandinsomesense[?]significantlyexpandedtherightsofsuffrage,butstilltherearesignificant--very[?]practicalabouttheelections,anditisamazingthatwe'restill[?]states[?]officialsintentionallypassingthatmeasures[?].Wealso,beyondthe[?]thesearebeingslitigatedliterallyevenaswespeak.Beyondthelevelofthisisjustthedifferencethattheadministrativesystemdoes.Weare[?]NewYork.NewYorkis48thor49thoutofthe50statesinchargeof[?].

S511:30 Senatorjustwonabigvictoryyesterday.Hisdistrictprobablyhas300,00people.I'dbesurprisedif[?]morethan10,000peopleactuallyhastheirballotin[?].Hewonbyabout--IwaswatchingthepollonNewYorkOnelastnight,sohemaybehad10or12,000votescastinyourdistrict.Hisdistrictprobablyhas150,000adultcitizens,ifnotmore.Andyourprimaries,themainelectionwins.Congratulations.Sowehaveasystem--wehaveatruly[?]bipartisan[?]elections.NotAmy'sagency,butadifferentone,whichisstaffeddirectlybythepoliticalpartieswhichhavenointerestinmakingiteasierforpeopletovoteoractuallyreachingouttoexpand,toreduceandvetthepracticalmarriageofthem.SoI'msurewe'lltalkmoreaboutcampaignfinancereformingbygerrymanderingandotherthings.Insomesense,steponeisactuallymakingsurethatthevoteislegallyandpracticallyavailabletoasmanyadultresidencesaswecandointhecommunity.

S612:33 Sotobuildonsomeofwhatthepresidentwasstartingtogetinto,whetheryou'relookingatGustavo'srace,orwhetheryou'rewanttolookinanassemblyrace,SheldonSilverwasfederallyconvictedinadistrictof150,000people.Theselector,asthegroupofpeopledesignatedtheactualwinner,thewomenwillbeinaugurated,thosewere2,600.UpstatenearRochester,NewYork-anotherassemblydistrict-adeadmanwon.Heisdeceased,andhewon.Andthatisbecausesofewpeopleparticipated,andhonestly,thosewhodidmightnothavereadabout--andhediedtheweekbefore.Itwasnotasifthisissomethingthathappenedearlier,it'sactuallyareallyunfortunatestory.Hewon.Anditwasaprimary,andinNewYorkheactuallyisinprimariesandthepresidentalreadybrokenoutthe[?].Idon'thavetorepeatit,butmysenseisoncewe'republishingthatinformation,andhaveidentifiedwherethe[?]electedpower[?]stops,that'swhatweneedtopublishon,rightonthe[?].

S713:39 BeforeIwasaSenator,Iwasaneducator.Istillteachcollegetothisday.OneofthethingsthatIstartedtodoassoonasIgotelectedwasIstartedtodo[?]classesatmydistrict.AlotofthatIwasinspiredbythatmanoverthere,ChristopherLong.[applause]AmanfromsocialsciencesatCUNYCollegeand[?].Theendofthecivicsclass,afterIwentthroughall[?]towhatlegislaturesdo,what[?]district.Itellfolksthesearefact,backin2010,[?]wasnowinprison,infederalprison,andheisthehighest--theracethateveryone'spayingattentionto[?].Ifyoudon'toryou'veforgottenthanI'vedonemyjobwell.

S714:33 Backthen,soIwasthehighestprofile[?]intheentirestate.Irepresentabout318,000peoplenow,backthenitwas310,000,ofthat220,000wereover18,ofthat150,000over18andcitizens,andofthat143,000wereregisteredtovoteandofthat110,000wereregisteredasDemocrats.Sothatprovesusoneproblemrightthere,so

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iftheprimaryistheelection,thehighest--theracethateverybodywaspayingattentionto,110,000potentialDemocrats.9,333ofthem,9,333voters.Thatis80%.Thankyoumathematicianperson,yes.Thatiscertainlyanissue.WhenIthinkaboutthechangesthatweneedtomake,partofitgoestowardsmakingsurethatpeoplefeelthatgovernmentistrustworthy,thattheycanactuallyparticipateandengage,whichbringsustocampaignfinanceandIwilltalkmuchmoreaboutthat.Iwanttoflipitforasecond,andtalkabouttheperspectiveofsomepeoplewhohavealotinthe[?]asopposedtoeitherpolicy-makersorsomebodywho'saregulatoror[?].ThereasonwhyIamanelectedofficialofamarketingfirmthatwantsfullpublicfinancingofcampaigns,there'salotofreasons,butIwillnarrowitdowntothree.

S715:51 Numberone.Thatthetimethatittakestofriggingraisemoneyisridiculous.Ridiculous.Igottoruneverytwoyears,likeinCongress.MostCongressmembers,therewasasamatteroffact,itwasSteveIsrael,whowasaCongressmemberwhojustretired,andpartofthereasonhewassayingthat,"I'mdonewiththisraisingmoneynonsense."Heain'tgoingtodoitanymore.Sothat'spartofit,it'stakingsomuchtime.

S716:12 Numbertwo.AlotofthepeoplethatIhavetoraisemoneyoffof,becauseIamnotgoingto--youandIaren'tgoingtosolveit.Ihavetomakesurethatyouhavedonors.AlotofthepeoplethatI'mgettingthismoneyfromarethesamefolksthatIhavetogotototalkaboutpolicy.Andmanyofthemareexpertsinpolicy.Iwanttobeabletohaveaconversationwiththemaboutwhatneedstobedone,whateverpolicyyoucouldthinkofwithouthavingtoaskthemformoney.Theyhavevaluablethingstoaddtotheconversation.Idon'twant[?].

S716:42 Andwhichbringsustothethirdone.Thethirdreason,whichistheideathatanybodycanlookatanybody'sfilingsandthenmakeanaccusationaboutwhatthatpersondoesinofficebasedonmoney.Whichisagaincertainlymanyofmycolleaguesunfortunatelyandsadlyarecertainlygroupedbythat.I'vebuiltareputationonthelastsixyearsandthatisnotthecase.Everybodyknowsthatunlessyou'reafreakingWalmart,I'llgiveyouameeting.Youcouldalwayscometomyofficeandyoucantalkaboutwhateveryouwant.AndI'mwillingtoagreeto[?]basedonthefactsandbasedonthepolicy.Andwe'llgotoe-to-toeandI'llaskmanyquestions.AndifIgettherightanswers,Iwillconvince,Iwillmakethis[?].Butanybodycanmaketheaccusationagainstme.AndIsaytomycolleagues,andwemakeourdecisionbasedonwhogivesusmoney.Soforthosethreereasons,asanelectedofficial,Iwanttochangethesystem.ButIcertainlywouldn'tgivealot[?]andthe[?]certainlygoestotrust.Peoplehavetotrustthatweareworkingforthemandnot--meaningtheconstituentsandthevotersnot[?].

S817:47 Ican'techothatenough.IthinkreallywhatAnnstartedwithisIthinkwhenyoutalkaboutwhat'swrongwiththeelectoralsystemtodayisreallymakingsurethatthepeoplewhoaresupposedtoberunningthegovernment,elecingthepeoplefeelthattheyarepartofthesystem,andthat'sareally,reallyimportantthingtothinkabout.It'slikeeveryonecanvote,butvery,veryfewpeopledovote.So,howyouwork,make

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surethatthesystemsareinplacethatitmakesiteasyforthemtoregister,makesiteasyforthemtovote.But,alsomakingsurethat,obviously,there'snofraud,butreallymakingsurethatthesystemsareinplace,thatpeoplewanttovote,thattheyfeelpartofthesystem,thattheyfeelthattheirvotematters,andthattheirgovernmentlistenstothem.

S818:39 AndIthinkthatoneofthethingsthatourprogramdoesindoingthissmalldollarmatchingfunds,iswereallyencouragepeopletobecomepartofthepoliticalprocessfromthevoter'sside.There'sthecandidate'sperspective,andwe'lltalkaboutthat,butfromthevoter'sside,it'slikeIgivea$10contribution,itmeanssomething.It's$70tothatcandidate.Thecandidatenowwilllistentome,willtalktome.Andalso,wedidastudywithCUNYGraduateCenteraboutthe2013election,andwefoundanastoundingfactthatpeoplewhogivecontributionsarethreetimesmorelikelytovote.Now,thatisinademocraticprimary,andtheydidn'tfindacausalrelationship,butthat'saprettypowerfulstatisticthatthinkingaboutyoubecomeasmallpartofthedemocraticprocessbygivingasmallcontribution,andthenyoufeelinvestedintheprocessandthenyougooutandvote,andthatisthetypeofthingthatwewanttoencourage,makingsurethattheprocesssupportstheindividualvoter.

S119:45 Alotofsimilarities,anydisharmonyintermsofdisagreementsaroundtheprinciplesin--?

S519:51 Notnecessarilydisagreementbut--

S119:51 Waitingforyoutojumpintoo,Jim,becauseIknowit'sinthere.

S519:55 AndIwantedtodoslightly,notdisagree,butjustthere'ssomethingthegentleman-Iforgetthegentleman'sname,thisgentleman,yes-becauseIwouldcertainlyagreethatthere'salotofrules,regulations,laws,etcetera,soyourargumentiswedon'tneedanymoreofthem.Ithinkprobablyasevenasthetaxhasbeenliberal,Iwouldsaythatweprobablydon'tneedmore,butweneedbetterones.Andifwecanhavetheideathatregulationbyitselfkindofstepsonfreedomcertainlyisanargumentthatwecanhavebackandforth,butbottomlineisthatIdothinkthatregulationisnecessary,andwedoneedbetterones,maybenotmore,butcertainlybetter.

S320:38 In1964asasophomoreinhighschool,andprobablynoneoneofyouhavebeenbornyetbutme.IliketosayIorganizedmyhighschoolforBarryGoldwaterbecausethatwasmyfirstcampaignthatIreallygotactive.Andwehadatownof56,000people,TerreHaute,IndianawhereIstillhavemylawfirm.Andthere,whenwecametothegeneralelection,therewereactuallythreegroupsinthissmallDemocratbluecollartownthathadcometogethertosupportBarryGoldwater.One,ofcourse,wasthelocalRepublicanparty.Buttherewastwoothergroupsofpeoplethatopenedupastorefront,openedupabankaccount,createdanameCitizensforGoldwater,gotsomecampaignliteratureandproceededtosupportGoldwaterinthatelection.

S321:34 Well,undermoderncampaignfinancelaws,thosetwocitizensgroupswouldhavecommittedfourfederalcriminalviolationsforwhattheydid.Andtheresultofthe

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knowledgethatpeoplehave,thatifyoucreateagrouplikethat,youaregoingtohavetogototheFederalElectionCommission,notifythem,youaregoingtohavetodoreports,andtherearegoingtobealltheserulesandregulations,andthereisnobodyinyourtownthatknowsfederalcampaignfinancelaw.So,whatdoyoudo?Youdon'tdoit?ItisinconceivabletodaythatinanytownintheUnitedStates,thereweretwocitizensgroupsthathavecometogether.Iamnottalkingaboutunionsthatcanhirelawyersandaccountantsorbigcoorporations,richpeople.Iamtalkingabouteverydaycitizenscreatingagroup.IamsurethereisnotownintheUnitedStatesthatcreatedtwogroupstosupportDonaldTrumpinthegeneralelection,ortosupportHillaryClintoninthegeneralelection,andthatisbecausepeopleknowthattheycangetintroubleiftheydothat,sotheydon'tdothat.

S322:44 Thatisahugecost.Thatisthecostoftheseregulations.That'sthecostofhavingthefederalgovernmentsupervisor,andwehavelostcitizensparticipationinamassivescalebecausethesegroupsthatwanttogettogetherascitizens-guesswhatthey'recalledinWashington?They'recalledoutsidegroups.They'reoutside.They'renotpartoftheprocess.They'reoutsideoftheprocess,sowe'vegottoregulatethemandmakethemdisclosewho's--inotherwords,we'vegottoholdtheminaccountfortheirparticipationinourpoliticalsystemsopeopledon'tdothis.It'sthewealthy,thewell-connected,thebigcorporations,andbiglaborunions-yeah,theycanalldothis.Butaveragecitizensgettingtogether,thisisinconceivable,andthatisahugelossinourparticipationandourdemocracy,andonlywhenwegettoderegulationwillcitizensparticipationincrease.Therestofthesethingsthatthey'vebeentalkingabout,"Kickinanother60bucksbecauseyougavea$10contribution."Thesearetrivialandatthemarginscomparedwiththeideathatpeoplebelievethattheyessentiallyeithercontribute,possiblyvote,butbasicallystayonthesidelinesbecausegrassrootspoliticalorganizingisyou'retryingtodo.Youknowyouhavegottohavealawyertodothisandthatisabigproblem.

S424:19 IcanseewhyJimwouldwanttothinkyouhavetohavealawyerasagoodlawyerinthefield.

S224:23 Yeah.

S424:24 ButIwouldgiveyouacouple--

S324:26 [?]wouldnothaveagoodlawyer.

S424:28 ButIcangiveyouacoupleofexamples,inmysmallcommunityinVirginiaineveryelectioncycleyouhavecitizengroupsthatcomeupunderstatelawnotfederal,buttheyare--

S324:37 YeahIlikeVirginiaisalotbetter.

S424:39 Sotheother--theyallrequireregistrationofpoliticalcommunitiesbeforeyouspendmoneyinreports.Butcitizenswhoareinterestedgoaheadanddothat.AtthefederalleveltheactionthatIwasinvolvedwithIwilladmit,sortofdraggedintoitwasColbertsSuperPAC,AmericansforaBetterTomorrow,Tomorrow,andpeople

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watchedthatandformedsuperPACsacrossthecountry.TheywenttotheFECwebsite,theyfilledouttheform,theyhadtheirsuperPAC.Idon'tthinkitisthatcitizensareafraidtobeinvolved,itisthattheyarenotsuretheirinvolvementmakesanydifference.Thatanyoneislisteningtothem.Thatistherealissuehere,andthatgoestothewholeideathatthefirstamendmentasyoupointeditoutontherighttopetition,issothegovernmentwillhearpeople.AndIthinkwehaveasystemnowwherethegovernmentishearingthelobbyistsandthebillionairesandtheWashingtoninterest.Andcitizensfeelthey'regettingleftoutofthatequation.

S325:40 Don'tyouthinkismoresystemicthanthat?Imean,oneoftheconceptsofself-governmentwastohavegovernmentbeatthelowestpossiblelevel,startingwithyou.Inotherwords,youhavingthemaximumamountoffreedom.Andtherefore,ifyou'regoingtohavesomegovernmentregulation,itneedstobeatthelowestlevel.Well,aswe'repushingallthepoweruptothefederalgovernment,certainly,peoplethatarevotingintheBronxonwhetherornottovoteforthissenatoroverherehavegottobesaying,"Whatpossibleeffectwillmyvotehaveonmylife?"VotingforsomebodyinAlbanyinNewYork,withallthepowerthattheymighthave,whendoesthefederalgovernment,evenmoresorunningthings?Iftownsandcitieswereactuallydoingthesethingsatthelowestpossiblelevelanddoingthingsthatpeoplecouldactuallyaffect,thentheywouldsay,"Well,hey,maybeIcangetsomethingdone."Inourtown,alotmorepeoplevotethan10%.Alotmorepeople.

S726:47 Onethingveryquickly,isthatthefactisthattheoverwhelmingmajorityofthingsthatgovernmentlegislates,theydoatthelocallevel.Theconstitutionmixareveryclear.

S326:59 Well,tellObamathat,wouldyou,oftheregulation.

S727:02 Iwillbesure[laughter][crosstalk].I'vegottocallBettytomorrowtotakecareofit,don'tworryaboutit.I'lltellBettytomorrow.Buttherealityis,theoverwhelmingmajorityofthingsandyouknowyourconstitutionverywell,sir.Soyouknow,articleonesectionAoftheconstitutionisveryspecificaboutthe[?]powerofthefederalgovernment.Everythingelseisthestate.ThecivicsclassesthatIreferredtoearlier,partoftheconversationthatIhaveinthemiddleofthemistellingpeople,"Thesearethethingsthatwe-meaningnotwe,butme,I'moneofthepeoplethatdoesit-canlegislate.WhichiswhyyoushouldcarewhoIam.Carewhatwedo.Andactuallyparticipateingovernment."So,Ijusthadtojumpinthere.

S?27:39 [crosstalk].

S227:40 LetmejustmakeaquickresponsetoMr.Boppaboutthefederalelectioncommission.Therealityis--

S327:53 IlovetheFEC.

S227:53 Yes,Iknowyoudobecauseweprovideyouwithyourincome[laughter].[applause]

S328:02 Wait,wait,wehaveasymbioticrelationship.Theypassrules,Isuethem.Okay?

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S228:06 Right.Yeah.Well,actuallywehaven'tpassedaruleinaboutfouryears.

S328:12 Well--you'retrying.

S228:13 Yes,weare.Buttherealityisthatthesmallgrassrootsgroupsnevergetpenalized.Whattheydoisworkthroughourstaff.Theytrytohelpthemtocomplywiththerules.Therulesarenotallthatcomplicatedbutthere'sabigeffortonthepartoftheFECtohelppeopletocomplywiththelaw.WhatreallycountshereandIhavetoagreetotallywithyouonthis,whatreallycounts,peoplecareabouttransparency.Theywanttoknowwho'sbehindcampaignsandwhatJimwantsistotalderegulation.Well,actuallymostofthepeoplethatwecareaboutaretheonesthatarethedarkmoneygroupsthatarefunnelingmoneythroughLLCsorthrough501(c)(4)sand(c)(6)sanddon'twanttodisclosemillionsofdollarsandmanyofthemadmitit.That'swhatthepubliccaresaboutandthat'swhattheFECshouldbecaringabout.It'stomakesurethatweknowwho'stryingtoinfluencethevoteandwho'sinfluencingpublicpolicyinthiscountryandthepublicdoesn'tknowthatnow.Imeanwehaveessentiallyabifurcatedsystemofcampaignfinancewheresmallercommitteesyes,theydisclose,candidatesdisclose,butthepeoplewhoarespendingallthemoneyaren'tdisclosingwhentheyshouldbe.

S129:55 Letmegetonequestionfromtheaudienceandjustdoaquickthinghere.

S929:59 IthinkyouansweredmostofwhatIwasgoingtoaskaboutbecauseIfeelthatrecently,inthispastyear,atleastespeciallywiththeNewYorkCitypoliticalforumandalotoftheMeetupgroups.There'sbeenalotoflocalMeetupsandalotoforganizing,especiallyonsocialmedia,andsomyquestionwasaround,isityouonlyhavetofilewhenthere'smoneyinvolved.

S230:27 Yes.

S930:26 Becauseifyoulookatsocialmedia,especiallyReddit,Facebook,Twitter,there'sbeenalotofpeopletalking,andalotofpeopleorganizingaroundvariouspoliticalcandidates.AndsoIguessthatwouldhavebeenmyquestion,ifyouonlyhavetoregisterwhenthere'smoneyinvolved.SoIwouldcomebacktothefactthat,Idon'tthinkit'struethatpeoplearen'torganizing.Therearepeopleorganizingalloverthecountryandtalkinganddonatingatlowlevels.

S330:53 Inthesocialmedia,theinternetisexemptfromFECregulation.Thatisanexampleofafreefreedom.Youcandowhateveryouwantontheinternet,theonlyregulation--

S431:09 Exceptspendmoney,whenyouhavetoreportit.

S331:11 Theonlyregulation,thatIwasaboutreadytosay[laughter],thatyousokindlyinterrupted,isofcourse,ifit'sapaidadvertisementbyacampaign,thenthatcampaignreportsthat,andofcourse,you'vegottohaveadisclaimeronthat.Butbeyondthat,thatisanexampleoffreedom.Wherepeoplehavecometounderstandthattheycandowhatevertheywant.NowAnn,blessyourheart,wantstochangethat.Shewantstoregulatetheinternet.Andtherehavebeenanumberofpeople--

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S231:50 HaveyoubeenwatchingFoxnews?

S331:52 Ihavebeenreadingyourstuff[laughter].Ihavebeenreadingyourstuff,Ann[chuckles].Andthereareothers.AndifAnnwantstochangehermindandnotdoitnowthat'sfine.

S232:03 Ineedtoanswerthat.

S332:03 But,thereareotherswhowanttoregulatetheinternet.ThisisanexampleofwhatI'mtalkingabout.ThisisfreedomversusareasthatareregulatedandI'mforthefreedommodel.

S232:14 Right.

S632:15 SoI'mgoingtojumpinbeforeJimmakesthecommissionerleave.Andyouspoketo[laughter]--

S232:21 No,no,no.

S632:22 Istheassumptionthatwasmadeabout12minutesagothatpoliticalengagementmeansfinancialengagement?I'monthisstageandIhavenevercontributedtoapolitician,ever.Ihavedoneresearchonpoliticians.Ihavepublishednewswithbylines.Iaffecttheirday.ButIdon'thavetowritethemacheck.Thisguy,Ispentabout900hoursvolunteeringonhiscampaign.Idrovehimaround.Wegotmealstogether.Imadesomepictures.Thepictureofhiminyourprogram,Imadethatsixyearsago.Youdon'thavetowriteacheck.Thatisonespeechactamongmany.IcouldshowthatIdon'tlikeapoliticianbyburningthemineffigy.That'salsoaspeechact[laughter]thatIwouldbefreetomake.

S133:11 Youmeantheirimage,right?Theimageofthem?

S633:13 There'saguy--I'msorry?

S133:14 Theirimage,notthem[laughter].Right?

S633:16 Yeah.There'sactuallysomebodywhodidthis.Youreadabouthiminthenewsyesterday.HeputupathingofTrumpandhehunganimageofHillary.Youcanengagewithoutwritingacheck.Andalsotocomeatthisfromtheotherside,theNewYorkCitysystemmatchesyourdonationsuptoanamount.$175,right?IactuallytookalookandIwantedtoseeifcampaignsanddonorsweresensitivetothatamount.Thatisifyousawthatthereisalotofchunkingoractivitywherejustalotofpeoplearelike,"Yeah.175matchingfunds."Thereisn't.Thetruthisthatwhilealotofpeoplearebroughtinonsmalldonorshipandhouseparties,politiciansarestillinNewYork.They'reraisingmoneyfrompeoplethathavedisposableincomeandthey'reraisingitfromasfewpeopleaspossiblebecausetheyneedtimeforotherthings.Theyneedtodotheirdayjob.Theyneedtotalktovoters.Sothey'reresponsivetoinstitutionsandtolargedonors.Andthereareplentyofsmalldonors.Ihaveseenthedata.IhaveworkedwithSteveRomanowskiandhe'sshownmesomeofit.It'sincredible.Butitstilldoesnotdothewholejobofdistinguishing.There'salotofengagementwecan

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dothatisnonfinancial.BecausethereasonIhavenevermadeacontribution,Ihavetime,notmoney.

S134:30 Ann,didyouwanttojumpin?

S234:33 Well,Iabsolutelyagreewithyouontheissueofvolunteering.That'sonewayofengagement,butsmalldonorsarealsoawayasAmymentionedofengagement.There'realotofotherways,andthetruthis--Imeanyou'retalkingabout--I'llanswertwothingsatoncebeforeIgettoJim.ButIalsothinkthequestioncertainlyvotersuppressionisanimportantissueandalloftheotherwaysthatit'sdifficultforpeopletovote,butI'lltellyouI'mfromCalifornia,andCalifornia,it'sreallyeasytovoteandpeopledon'tvote,still.I'msureMattcantalkaboutthestatistics.In2014,thenumberofyoungpeoplefromtheageof18to24whovotedwas8%,8%.Andthatcausedapundanttosay,youhaveagreaterlikelihoodifyou'reayoungpersoninCaliforniatobearrestedthentovote.

S235:45 Imeanseriously,thisisaserious,seriousproblemandwe'vegottogettothequestionofwhy.It'snotaquestionofaccessentirely.There'sprobablyamultitudeofreasons,someeconomicbutthat's,inmyview,thethingthatwe'vegottobeworriedaboutandIpersonallyliketotalkaboutitasacrisis,becauseIthinkthatisacrisis.Regardingtheinternet,yes,weknowthatoneelectedofficialstartedtheinternetandnowI'mtryingtoterminateit.ButactuallyI'mnottryingtoregulatetheinternet,I'mtryingtoassurethatwiththereallypositiveaspectsoftechnologyandtheinternetandtheabilitytogetouttolotsofpeoplelikebrigadedoestogetengagement,wealsohavetohavetransparency.Wehavetomakesurethatthepeoplewhoarefundingcampaignsaredoingitlegally,wedon'tknowthatnow.

S236:54 Seriously,there'sallthesemoneyfunnelingthroughtheinternetthatprobablycomesfromforeignsourceswhichisclearlyillegal,andweknowit,andwedon'thavetheabilitytogetthatinformation.Andthat'ssomething,ifthere'sazoningissueinthecityofNewYork,doyouwantforeignintereststobetellingyouwhocanbuildsomethingnexttoyou?No,probablynot.That'sauniquelylocalissueandthelawisclearthatforeigninterestscan'tbeinvolvedinanylevelofvotinginthiscountry,sothat'smyissuewiththeinternet.Ihaveneversuggestedoneregulationinmyentiretime.Ihavesaidweneedtotalktopeople,totechnologists,topeoplewhoarethinkingaboutthissubject,andunderstandthatissuesofvotingandissuesofcampaignfinancearegoingtotheinternet.Thecampaignsaregoingtocellphones.They'regoingtoFacebookandTwitter.Weneedtobeabletounderstandhowwecangettheinformationthatpeopledeserve.

S138:17 Okay,we'regoingtochangetopicsbeforeIdoaquestionfromtheaudience.Backright,Igotyou.I'mgoingtodragouttoyou.

S1038:25 Hi.ThisisforAnn,James,andTrevor.Anyway,thisisexcitingtobehere.I'vespent527money.I'vespentalotofmoneypoliticallyandstate-levelandeverything,soit'skindofexciting,especiallyMr.Bopphere.Butmyquestionis,havingworkedon527s--itwasjustrearrangingthedeckchairs,essentially,withCitizensUnitedbecause

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great,soC4snowdon'thavetodiscloseanythingduetothesameactions.But,myargumentistherealwayswasmoneyandalwayswillbemoneyandCitizensUnited'snotgoinganywhereinmylifetime,itdoesn'tlooklike,unlessthere'sradicalchange.SoImeanthatsaidisn'talwaysgoingtotrampleanyattemptsatpublicfinance?Atleastonthefederallevel,doyoueverseegoingbackorhavingasystemwherethereisnotdarkmoneyinitandthereisnot520--orevena527.Solikeyouknowoneofmyprogramswasfullyhandwrittenbythreeguysin2004.AndyeahIcouldn'ttalktotheKerrycampaignbutitdidn'tmatter.Andthenit'snotlikeyouguyscanactuallyenforceallthecasesofcoordinationanyway.Imeanyoucancoordinate,youjustcan'tbetoostupidaboutit.YoucankindofgetawaywithitanywaynotthatIknow.Notanyway[laughter].

S339:41 Whatyouarepointingtoisthereisacause,thereisacauseforthefactthatwehavealltheseSuperPACs,thatwehadalotof527sandthere'sstillsome,wehaveC4spendingallonpolitics.Theprinciplecauseiscontributionlimit.Okay,likeinthefederalsystemis$2,700.IfsomebodylikeatriallawyerwhomakesmillionsisafraidthattheRepublicansaregoingtopass[?]reform,sohe'spreparedtospend$50,000onafederalraise,toinfluenceafederalraise.Becausehethenwant[?]reform.Wellyoutellhimhecangive$2,700toacandidate,hedoesn'tgohomeafterthat.Hetakesthatother43,000,47,000,whateveritis.

S540:41 47,300,yes.

S340:41 Thankyou[laughter].Thenumbersman.Thankyou.Andhegoesandfindssomeplaceelsetospendit.Imean,atleastsuperPACsaretransparentbecausetheyarefederalpacksorstatepacks.But,theycouldgotoa527whichisalsotransparentwithreportingtheIRS.TheycouldgotoaC4withsomesignificantrestrictionsanddifficulties.So,inIndianawedonothavecontributionlimitstoourstatecandidates.So,wehavenosuperPACs.Wedon'thaveanysuperPACs.Canyouimaginethat?Wehavefourgroupsthatdoindependentspendingandhavebeendoingitfordecades.Theteacher'sunion,themanufacturers,thechamber,andoverthelastdecade,thepro-schoolchoicegrouphavebeendoingindependentspendingofanysignificanceatall.

S341:37 So,theprinciplecauseofallthisthird-partyspending,thateverybodyiscomplainingabouttransparencyandlackofaccountability-whichIagreecompletely,thattheyarelesstransparentandlessaccountable-iscontributionlimits.So,theywanttotreatthecause.Imean,theywanttotreatthesymptom,notthecause.Thecauseistheseridiculouslylowcontributionlimits.YoucannotevenbuyDemocratcongressmenfor$2,700[laughter].Okay?So,theanecdotalevidenceisthatittakes99,000incoldhardcashtobuyDemocrat-thatwasWilliamJeffersonofNewOrleans-heliterallyhad99,000incoldhardcashinhisfreezer.Or,thenon-partisan,bi-partisanDukeCunningham,aRepublicanofSanDiego,hewaschairmanoftheArmedServicesCommittee.Ifyoucameinforanearmarkheliterallypulledoutamenu,andsay,"Wellhowmuchisyour--?Okay$50million.Okay,thatwillbe,thelowestprice$140,000."

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S342:43 Allright,sohonestlyifyou'vegotsomebodyinpowertakesbeboughtwith$2,700,youhaveamuchbiggerproblemthancampaignfinanceisgoingtobeabletodealwith,allright?You'vegotsomebodyinherentlycorrupttheywillfindawaytogetthemoney.Andsotheseamountsaresolowbuttheyarethencausingalltheproliferationofallthesegroupswhichdistortsoursystem,makesitlesstransparentandlessaccountableandthey,ratherthanfixingtheproblembyraisingcontributionlimits,theywanttoregulatethisotherspeech.

S643:23 SomayI?

S343:24 Makingthingsworse.

S143:26 Onemorecommentandthenwe'regoingtochangetopics,sogoaheadthelastone.

S643:28 Sothelastcommenthere,I'mgoingtogetspecifictoNewYorkanyway.InNewYorkwehavedifferentschedulesonthecampaignfinancerecords.Theseschedulesindicatethetypeofentitythatusthecounterpartytothepoliticalcommittee.Forinstanceanindividualdonor,acorporatedonor,oraninstitutionaldonor.Andthetruthisaslongaswehaveanythingotherthanindividualsdonating,individualslose.ItdoesnotmatterifthereisanindividualCapat2,700,5,400becausetheAmericanExpressfinancialservicesPACrepresentsmoreindividualsthananyofusorallofustogether.Andthat'sjusttonameoneofwhichmybrotherwasproudlyamember,stillis,IsanemployeetherebecausehegetstoseeCharlieCookspeakeveryweek.

S644:10 So,thebasicideahereisthatwhethertheseorganizationsaresuperPACsorwhethertheyareotherformsofaccumulatedinterestsintheformofunions,fiddlingwiththedonorcapisn'tactuallygoingtochangeathingbecausethere'sstillthecasethatsomepeoplearemoreequalthanothers.Thismoneyisvalue-neutralbutsomepeoplejusthavealotofitandtheywillfindtheirwayin.AnditisnotbecauseofalowcapthattheydobecauseAmericanExpressfinancialservicesPACstillisnotanindividualsubjecttotheindividualdonorcap.

S444:42 IwantedtogobacktothequestionbecauseeveryonewashearingallthesecommentsaboutC3sandC4sand527sand,unlessyou'reallcompletepoliticaljunkies,theheartofthequestionis,isn'titalwaysgoingtobepossibletosecretlygetmoneyintoelections?Becausethepointofallthosegroupsisyoucangivetothemandtheycanspendmoneywithoutanyoneknowingwherethemoneycamefrom.Jimsaysthat'sbecauseyouhavelowcontributionstocandidatesthattheygivetotheseoutsidegroups,buttherealityissuperPACshavenocontributionlimits.YoucouldgiveallthemoneytosuperPACsbuttheydon't.TheygivetothedarkmoneygroupsbecausesuperPACs,asJimpointout,reporttheirdonors.C3s,C4s,alltheseothergroupsdon't.ThisgoesbacktotheSupremeCourtstatementintheCitizensUnitedcase,thatweshouldn'tworryaboutcorporatemoneyfloodingthesystembecauseitwouldbefullydisclosed.Peoplewouldknowwhichcorporationswerepayingfortheads.

S345:49 Whydon'ttheywanttodisclose?

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S445:50 Wedon'tbecausewehavethedarkmoney[crosstalk].

S345:53 Whydon'tthey[crosstalk]--

S445:54 Manycorporationsdon'twanttodisclosebecausetheydon'twanttotelltheirshareholderswhatthey'redoing,ortheircustomerswhomaynotlikeit.

S346:01 Doyouthinkithasanythingtodowiththefactthatpoliticianswillattackthem?DoyouthinkithasanythingtodowiththefactthatNixonhadanEnemiesListandsictheIRSonthosepeople?Doesithaveanythingtodo--?

S446:12 [crosstalk]Ifyoudon'twanttohavepeopleknowwhoyouare,thenyoudon'thavethelandofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave-asheputit-ifyouareafraidtostandupandsaywhoyouarewhenyou'respeakingpolitically.

S346:25 Andyoudon'tcarethatpoliticianswillpunishpeoplewhosupporttheiropponents?

S446:32 Becauseyouhaven't[crosstalk].

S346:32 Honestly,Trevor,I'veneverheardyouspeakoutonthat.Ever.You'veneversaidthere'sabalance.AndIdothinkthere'sabalancebetweenvoterinformationontheonehandandthechill-thepoliticalactivity,disclosurepoliticalactivity-willhaveonthepeople'swillingnesstodoit.InmytownIlivedonastreetandpeoplesworethatbecausewehadDemocratMayorstheyneverwouldpaveourstreet.Ithinkmaybethere'ssomepossiblemerittothat[chuckles].

S147:06 We'regoingtohavesomemoretimetodiscusstheseconflictpoints.Idowanttochangetopicsforaquicksecond.ProfessorBriffaultandAmy,whatdoyouseearethebiggestproblemsthatwe'refacingonourelectionsystem,particularlythelensofNewYork?Youcanreachtothefederallevelthatwe'redealingwithtoday.

S547:26 Mayberephrasethisslightly.We'retalkingaboutthisasanelectionsdispute,butinsomeways--startthinkingwhatJimsaidaboutthegroupsthatformIsnottherealproblem,it'sthecontributions[?].TherealproblemIthinkisnottheelectionsystem.It'stheimpactoftheelectionsystemonthegovernmentsystemthatcomesaftertheelectionandthatprecedesthenextelection.Goingbacktowhatthesenatorsaidafewminutesagoaboutraisingfundsfrompeopleandalso[?]policy,notcorruptly.They'renotputtingmoneyinyourbankaccount.They'reputtingmoneyintoyourelection,ortheymightbe,becausethey'reinterestedininfluencingyourviewsaboutcharterschoolsoraboutinsuranceregulationoraboutlocallanduseregulationorwhateverthemanythousandsofthingsthatAlbanyhastodealwith.Theywanttogetonyourgoodside,notillegally,notcorruptly,notwiththeopponentyou[?]acoupleyearsago,notbyliterallyliningyourpocket,butbyhelpingyouwithyourelection.Youneedsomebodytohelpyourelectionbecauseifnobodygivesyoumoneyforyourelection,howcanyoucampaign?

S548:29 Idothinkthatonsomewayswemightwantto--Ithinkit'ssexiertolookatthislikeanelectionsproblem,butinsomeways,it'sdeeplyagovernanceproblem,andit's

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abouthowdowewanttostructureourelectionssothatweminimizethedysfunctionsingovernment,nottoproducethebestgovernment.I'mnotthatoptimistic.It'showdoweminimizethedysfunctions.Onething,andIthinkthisiswherepartoftheNewYorkCitycampaignsystemcomesin,istryingtoreducetheimpactofthecampaignfinancingsystemaswellasthegerrymanderingsystemaswellaslimitationsonthevoteandthewayinwhichtheyskewtheoperationsofthegovernmentthatcomesafterthiselectionandthenleadsuptothenextelection.

S549:13 NewYorkCity,Ithinkwehaveparticularproblemsactuallywiththevotingsystem,probablymorethanmanyotherjurisdictions.Wehaveanespeciallydysfunctionalboardofelectionsandespeciallydysfunctionaladministrativesystemforvoting.Wehavemoreacutegerrymanderingherethanmanyotherplaces.Wehaveabettercampaignfinancesystem,albeitonewhichduetobackgroundlaws,stateandSupremeCourt,isboundtobelimited.That'swhereIseeourproblemsishowdowethinkabouttheimpactoftheelectoralsystemongovernanceandhowdowewritetherulesforelectionsthatway,tolimitthekindsofpressurethatthesenatorisunder,pressuresthatisgoingtoaffecthimwhetherhewantsthemtoornothoweverhardhetries,andIsuspectprettysuccessfullyinyourcase,butnotallyourcolleaguesaregoingtobeassuccessfulasyouareinresistingthosepressures.

S850:05 IagreewithRichard.Ithinkthatpartoftheissueis.AndIthinkit'spartofthereasonwhypeoplearesodisillusionedwiththeelectoralsystemisbecausetheydon'tfeelthatthegovernmentlistenstothem.Soitisreallytheyallareintertwined.It'sifIamallowed-notme,becauseIdon'thavethiskindofmoney.ButifIcouldgive$50milliontohelpelectsomebody,guesswhat?Igaveyou$50milliontohelpelectyou,Ikindofexpectyoutodosomethingforme.AndevenifIdon'texpectyoutodosomethingforme,everyonethinksthatIexpectyoutodosomethingforme.Andsojusthavingthatkindofmoneyfloodingintotheelectoralsystemcorruptswhatpeoplethinkoftheirgovernmentandhow--theybecomecynical.Andit'slikeIdon'tmatter.Becauseyeah,Icanvote,butIdon'thavethekindofmoney,Idon'thavekindoftheinfluence.Whenthatpersoniselected,Imightwantmystreetlightfixed.Yes,IagreewithsenatorRiverathat,absolutely,mostoftheissuesthatpeopledealwithday-to-dayarelocalissues.Iwantapotholefixed.Iwantthestreetlightonmycornerbecauseit'sdangerous.Iwantthemtoputpedestrianmediansin.Alllocalissues.Ithinkthatpeopleneedtoknowthatthey'repartofasystemthatcountstothem.

S851:28 AndIthinkthatinNewYorkCity,it'spartofourcampaign-friendlysystem.Itreallydoes.Itencouragespeopletorunwhoaren'tholdingtobiginterest,becausetheycanhavethiskindofmoneygiventohimfromthegovernmentsotheyareabletorun,wehavemorecompetitiveelections,wehavelesspeoplerelyingonbigmoney.Andwegaveout$36millioninpublicfundsinthe2013elections.Therewere$16millioninspendinginthatelection.Buttherearealotofraceswherethereisthepersonwhowonwaswelloutspentwiththeindependentspendingbecausetheywereabletogettheirmessagethroughthepublicfinancingsystem.SoIthinkreallydoingthatandenforcingthelaw.Imeanwedidn'ttalkaboutthatthatmuchinthelastround,butenforcingthelawisimportant.Imeanafriendovertherewhoaskedthequestion

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aboutcoordination,Imeanitisadifficultthingtoenforce.NewYorkCityhasprettystringentrulesaboutthatandthecandidatesknowthatweenforcethem.IthinksomeoneelsemaybeRichardorTrevortalkedabouthavinganon-partisanelectionsystemwhichisreallyanimportantpartofmakingsurethattheelectionsystemsarefair.Ithinkthathavinganon-partisanboardhasreallyhelpedthecity'sboardbemuchmoreeffectivethansomeotherregulatoryagenciesacrossthecountry.

S152:54 Inthespiritoffindingthecauseversusthesymptom,dowethinkweunderstandtheproblem?

S653:01 I'mresearchingtheproblem,I'vegotacouple100millionlinesofrecords.Iquerythistosayokaywhatisthedollaracquisitioncostsofacampaign?Whataretheybuying?Howmuchofitisalcohol,asfarasseeingwhatare?Nothatwas,thisiswhatgotmystart.IputuppiechartsofhowmuchpoliticiansintheNewYorkCitysystem-usingyourlogoandyourdatauntilMaccalledmeupandsaiddon'tuseourlogo-howmuchtheywerespendingonalcohol,sopeoplecouldseeyeah,there'samatchingfundsystem,it'sgreat,anyonecangetinvolved,they'rethrowingparties.Andthat'snotallthey'redoing,they'redoingrealwork,they'regettingelected,theydothejob.Buttheideabeingwedon'tactuallyknowwhat'sgoingoninthere,asI'vetalkedtoyouaboutthis,whatincentivestheyarereactingtooneithersideoftheirledger.AndthereisalotofinterestingnarrativetherethatIcouldtalkaboutforanhourifIwastheonlyonehere.ButbasicallyIwouldsaythisisaproblemwithsomuchdata,andthat'sactuallywhereIgoininbuildingthetoolsthatallowmetoasksomequestionof100millionrecordsatonce.SoIcansaythisisactuallythedistributionwithinthepopulationofwhatthesepeoplearedoing.SoIdon'tunderstandtheproblemyet.I'mstillbuildingtoolstotrytogetthere.

S154:10 Anybigproblemswe'remissingbeforewemovetothebrighterside[laughter]?

S554:14 Justtounderscoretwothings,oneisAnn'spointearlierwhichisit'snotalljustpurelylegalorpoliticalorstructural.Thereisjust--whatexplainsthelackofengagementisjustahardquestion.AndIthinkit'snotjuststatistical,it'snotjustdata,butit'sbroaderthanthatandmaybeit'sstartinginothercountries,andit'snotjust--itoccursatthelocallevel.ImeanjusttorespondtowhatJimsaidbefore,universalpre-kwasdoneatthelocallevel.Affordablehousingissueshavebeenatthelocallevel,commoncoreornot,isstateandlocal.Thesearenotfederalissues.There'stonsofimportantlocalissues,just--whetheranewhigh-risegoesupacrossthestreetisgoingtobealocalissue.

S554:50 Therearereallyimportantlocalissues,somepeopledogetengagedwiththembutit's-andyou'reallengaged,andsowealwayshavetheseconversationswiththewrongpeople[laughter],becausethepeoplewhoarehere,you'realldoingit,it'ssortofeverybodyelse.Sotothatpoint-andthenjusttomaybejustremakethepointImadebefore-it'snotthatthisotherstuffthatIwastalkingaboutisillegalorcorruptintheformalsense.It'snotthebribes.Wehavelawsonbribes,weactuallycatchpeoplewhocommitbribes,someofthemlosetheirseatslikeSpeakerSilver,someof

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themgotoprison,youknow,thatpartisactually--wellhemaynevergetto--we'llseeaboutthatlater[chuckles].Butsomeofthatstuffwecanget,it'sthemoresubtleandpervasiveinfluenceofthesystemofraisingthemoneytobespentintheelections.

S555:40 It'sliketheplantthattiltstowardsthesun.Youputyourplantinthewindow,ittiltstowardsthesun.Thesunisthiscaseisthedonors,orthefunders,andit'skindofinevitable.Ifthat'swherethesunis,that'swheretheplantisgoingtolean.Thecaseforpublicfunding,andit'sgotitsissuesanditsproblemsanditsadequacies,isinfactitcreatedadifferentsong,andtohavelikesuncomingthroughdifferent--andit'sanother--sortoflikeStarWarsorsomething,it'ssciencefiction.Buttohave,tochangethetropismandtohavethepeoplelean,thecandidatesleaninadifferentdirection,oratleastnotinthedirectionofthesunthat'sbeenpullingthem.

S456:19 IwouldagreewithRichardthatIthinkoneoftheproblemsifyoulookataseriesofpolling,alongitudinalpolloveraperiodoftime,isthatAmericansaregrowingmorecynicalabouttheirgovernment.Ifyoulookatpollsdone30yearsago,thepercentageofAmericanswhosaid,"WhatIthinkdoesn'tmatterbecausemembersofCongressareboughtandsoldbythewealthyandthespecialinterests."wasdownat25%andit'snowup,it's78%.There'sarealchangethere.Andifthat'showpeoplefeel,theyarelesslikelytoinvolved.

S456:57 Ithinkthere'sadifferentaspectofthatandthatisthetalkaboutlowturnoutparticularlyinlocalelections,primaries,andsoforth.Thebigturnoutinthiscountryisgoingtobeeveryfouryearsinahigh-volumepresidentialelection,whicheveryoneistalkingabout,hasbeentalkingaboutformonths.Youcan'tpickupthepaperorlistentoanythingwithouthearingaboutit.Theoppositeendofthespectrumisthelocalelectionsforschoolboardorsherifforindeedapartyprimaryinabigcitywhereyouhopeyourfriendsandneighborsknowaboutitbutitisnotsomethingthateverypressentityiscoveringallthetime.Andhowitisthatinthoselocalelectionswecangetpeopletofocusonitandknowthere'sevenanelection,orwhothecandidatesare,Ithinkisachallenge.

S457:49 Theyoccasionallysaythattoomuchofagoodthingisnotnecessarilyagoodthingandwe,asacountry,havemoreelectionsthanalmostanyoneelsedoes.Wedoelectionsalmosteveryyear,youhaveoff-yearandon-year,andyouhavethepresidentialyearsandthentheoff-yearforcongress,andwhatwelearnisthemoreelectionsyouhave,theodderthetimingis,theearlyprimaries,thelateprimaries,therun-offsaftertheprimaries.Thevotingpoolgetstiredordoesn'tgetengagedanddoesn'tparticipate.Soyouendupwithareallysmallgroupofcitizenswhoaremakingthosedecisions,eventhough,asmanypeoplehavepointedout,inawaythoselocalelectionshaveamuchmoredirecteffectonyourlivesthanwhoyouvoteforforpresident.

S558:37 Justonelittlething,NewYorksetthe[?]ontoomanyelectionsthisyear[laughter].Wehadthreedifferentprimarydaysthisyear.Therewerethreedifferentparty

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primarydaysinNewYork.Thisis--wehadapresidentialprimaryinApril,wehadcongressionalprimariesinJuneandwehadthestatelegislativeprimariesinSeptember.Thisistrulynuts.

S258:56 Plussomedistrictshadspecialelections.Somepeoplewhovoted,whowillhavevotedfivetimes.

S859:04 Iwasgoingtotalkaboutthat,Imean,NewYorkStatehasaparticularlybad[chuckles]electoralsystem,asRichardbroughtup.Thelawsareveryantiquated.Itwasverywell-coveredhow,inNewYorkCity,atthepresidentialprimary,howmanypeopleweredisenfranchised.Theywenttothepolls.Theyweren'tabletovote.TherewassomeincompetencefromtheBoardofElections.But,alotofthatis--youhavetochangeyourpartyregistration.YouwouldhavehadtochangeitbyOctoberof2015inordertobeabletovoteinthepartyprimaryin2016,sotakenote.Ifyouwanttovoteintheprimariesnextyear,October,again,isthe[chuckles]deadlinetochangeyourprimarydate.Webroughtsomevoterregistrationforms,ifyou'reinterestedinregisteringtovotefortheNovemberelection,ifyou'renotregistered,orifyou'reinterestedinchangingyourpartydesignationforthemayoralelectionsnextyear.But,attheCampaignFinanceDepartment,we'vebeeninvolvedinorganizingandlobbyingthestatetotryandchangesomeoftheselawsthroughacampaignprogramcalledVoteBetterNY--

S760:22 I'maco-sponsoronallofthem,bytheway[chuckles].

S860:24 Andthey'reverycommon-sense.[applause]Notreally--mostpeoplefromotherstateswouldthink,"Well,thoseseemkindoflikeno-brainertypethings[chuckles].OneofthemistheVoter-FriendlyBallotAct,whichsaysmaybeyoushouldspendsometimewithgraphicdesignerstohaveaballotthatpeoplecanactuallyread.Youknow,thatkindofthing.Therewasoneelectionwhereelderlypeoplewerelike,"Ineedamagnifyingglasstobeabletoreadtheinformationonthisballot."Sothosekindofreallycommonsense,early--onlinevoterregistration-whichisanimportantthingthatmany,manystatesalreadyhave-earlyvoting,whichalotofstateshavetoallowpeoplemoreflexibility.ThepollsareopeninNewYorkcityalongtime,from6:00AMto9:00PM,buthavingmoredaysbecauseguesswhat?Peoplegotowork.Youforgotthatitwaselectionday.Yougottowork,someonetellsyou.YouseeourbeautifulIVotedstickeronsomebody'slapel,butyou'reworking,andsoyoudon'tgethomeintimetovote.Sohavingmoredayswillallowyouthatopportunity.Ithinkit'sjustthingslikethatreallymakingiteasierforpeopletobeabletogetoutandvote.

S161:44 Annbeforeyougo.

S261:44 Yeah,Iwanttoraiseanissuethathasn'tbeendiscussed,really.AndIagreewithyou,Richard,abouttheimpactofthemoneyandtheaccessthathasinfluencedpublicpolicy.Butthere'sanotherimpactofmoneyinpolitics,andthatisit'sverydifficultforpeopleofmoderatemeansandforwomen,Hispanics,otherminorities,AfricanAmericanstogetelectedinthiscountry.Andthereasonistheydonothaveaccessto

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themoneyandsothey'renotabletoeithermountacampaignorevengetintothecampaign,tobeginwith.They'redissuadedfromdoingitbecausetheneedformoneyhasbeensohighandthere'smoneycominginfrom--likesuperPACmoneytendstogo,it'smostlyonthefederallevelanywayisabout90%whitemaleswhogivetowhitemaleswhohavesuperPAC.Soit'sarealproblembecausewhatwe'rehavingiskindofadualissuehere.We'rehavingpeoplewhoaren'tabletohaveinfluenceonpublicpolicyandyoucan'thaverepresentativeswhoarerepresentativeofthecountryatlarge,andIthinkthat'sarealseriousproblemforthiscountry.

S163:16 Let'smakesureyoudon'tmissyourtrain.Wemighttakeaquestionfromtheaudience.We'regoingtogotolastcomment.[applause]

S263:27 [inaudible].

S1163:32 Hithere,ThomasfromMICpoliticalforum.Duringthelastelectioncycle,2012,oneofthemajornomineesfromtheparty-which,he'llremainnameless-saidthefollowing,"Corporations,myfriends,arepeople."Doyouagreeordisagree,Mr.Potter?That'sajoke.Therealquestionisthis[laughter].CitizensUniteddecisionhasbecomethispoliticallitmustest,andyou'vehadcandidateswhovowedtorepealtheirdecisioniftheynominateacertainjustices.Howviablewouldthatbetorepealthatdecision?Canyoujustlayoutascenariounderwhichadministrationthatcouldberepealed,andhowthesystemwouldreferbackto?

S464:21 IthinkthatCitizensUnitedisaillogicalandfatallyflaweddecision.AndIthinkthecourtwillrevisititand--

S?64:30 Wecan'thearyou,speakup.

S464:31 --changeit.Thatmicstoppedworking,trythisone.IthinkCitizensUnitedwasamistakeandflaweddecision.AndIthinkthecourtovertimewillrevisititandchangetheirmind.ThereasonIthinksoisthatIdothinkthere'sasubstantialdifferencebetweenindividualsandcorporations.WhenGovernorRomneysaid,"Corporationsarepeople,myfriend,"thatwasshorthandforaviewthatsayscorporationsaremadeupofpeople.AnditistheCEOorotherexecutiveswhoasindividualsaredecidingwhattodowiththosecorporateresourcesofthatcorporation'smoney,technicallybelongstoshareholders,andsomewheredowntheline,thosearegoingtobeindividuals.So,itwasanideabysomeofthejusticesthatifindividualscanspendmoneyinpoliticswhyshouldn'ttheybeabletodosothroughthecorporateform.But,youknow,assomeonewhofiledbriefsontheoppositesideofthatcase,Ithoughtthereweremanygoodargumentsthatsaidcorporationsaredifferentthanindividualsandcanbetreateddifferently.Theyhaveaperpetuallifewhichalaswedon'thave.Theyhavedifferenttaxsystems.Theyhaveagovernmentchartertoexistinthefirstplace.Andallofthose--

S765:47 Ifyouprickthem,dotheybleed[laughter]?

S465:50 AllofthoseindividualsinthosecorporationshadtheirownindividualFirstAmendmentrightsalready.So,theCEOcouldtalk,andendorsecandidatesasCEO.

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Theyhadspecialrightstospendmoneyasthroughtheirpacts.So,IthinkthesystemwehadbeforeCitizensUnitedwasamorelogicalone,andIthoughtconsistentwiththeFirstAmendmentwhichdoesnottreatallspeakersthesame.I'llbehappytopassthaton.

S?66:22 Sure,sure.Iamsure.

S466:25 Ifwecansayforeigncorporationscan'tgivein,foreignpeoplecan'tparticipate,thenwearesayingCongressgetstodrawthelinesbetweenspeakers,andIwoulddrawthelinesayingindividualsandcitizensandvotersshouldbeparticipatingandnotartificialentities.AndIdothinktheanswertoyourquestionisthatovertimethecourtwillcomearoundandrethinkthat.[applause]

S366:50 Thankyou.Wellbeforeyouclap,letmedefendmydecision[laughter]becauseyouwanttohavebothsideshereforasecond.There'stworeasonswhythedecisionwascorrect.First,thefirstamendmentdoesnotprotect-likethe14thandothers-therightsofpeopleorcitizensorwhatever.ItsaysCongressshallmakenolawabridgingthefreedomofspeech.Sothere'snothingaboutpersonsorcitizensinthere.Itprotectsanactivity-speech-regardlessofwhoisthespeaker.Sothefirstamendmentprotectionextendstoanybodyoranythingorinanywordthatyoucanspeak.Sothat'sthefirstthing.

S367:37 Nowthesecondthing--youknow,Ithinkit'sfinethatrichpeopleparticipateinpoliticsbutIdon'tthinktheyshouldbetheonlypeoplethatgettoparticipate.Youknow,richpeoplecanspendtheirownmoney.IfwehadTrevor'sworld-whereonlyindividualshadthefreedomofspeech-thenofcourse,richpeople,sincetheyhavethemoney,willgospendthemoneythemselves.Andyoucan'tstopthem.Howabouttherestofus?Howaboutyouandme?Howdoweparticipate?Wepoolourresources.Wegivemoneytoalaborunion,anadvocacygroup.Wepoolourresourcesbecausewedon'thavethemoney.Andoncethemoneyispooled,wethenspeak.

S368:28 Thatiswhythefirstamendmentprotectstherightofassociationforpoliticalpurposes.It'stoprotecttherightofyouandmetopoolourresources.Now,whenpeopledecidetopooltheirresources,thentheyhavechoicesofthestructuretheyuse.Itcouldbealaborunion,itcouldbeanot-for-profitcorporation,thatalltheseadvocacygroupsarenot-for-profitcorporations.Becausetheydon'twanttheirownresourcestobeonthehookforthespendingofthegroup.Onlywhattheycontributetothegroupisonthehook.So,inTrevor'sworld,it'sonlytherichpeoplethatgettoparticipate.InCitizensUnitedworld,allofusgettoparticipatebypoolingourresources[laughter].

S769:18 CanIjustmakeathirdpoint.Justto--

S169:20 Holdon,letmejust--Iwanttojustmakesurewedon'trunoutoftimeandthere'llbesometimeforextrapoints.There'salotgoingon.Iappreciateaudiencereactions.It'sfineandunderstandable.Wehaven'tengagedyouenough.Iknowthereareacouple

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quickquestions.I'mgoingtogetonemoreandthenwe'regoingtogototheopportunitiestheresowedon'tendonasournoteandwecanstayafterwardsandkeepchatting.

S1269:43 Goodevening.Idon'twanttobetheguywhostandsuphereandmakesaspeech,soI'mgoingtotrytokeepitasbriefaspossible.I'vebeenanelectedofficialonaverylocallevel.I'majournalistwhocoverselections,andI'mcurrentlyinvolvedwithaprojecttotrytoengageyoung,Latinomillennialstogetthemtoregisterandvoteacrossthecountry,soIhaveaprettybroadperspectiveonthis.Ilistentoyoutalkaboutfreedom,andIlistentosomeotherstalkabouttheneedforgovernmentregulation,andthewordthatIhaven'theardyetisresponsibility.Iknowthismaysoundalittlebitidealisticandaltruistic,butasaverylocalelectedofficial,whatIfoundwasthatpeople,assoonasIwaselected,thenpeoplelookedatme,"Oh,you'retheman.You'regoingtotaketheresponsibilityoffofallofus.You'retheonewhohatovote.Wedon'thaveto."

S1270:50 Ithinkthatthereisasenseinourlocalcommunitiesandacrossthecountrythatpeople,theydon'twanttovote.Theyhaveopinions.TheyexpressthemonFacebookandTwitterandInstagramallthetime,buttheydon'twanttogointothatvotingboothandpulltheleverorpushthehangingchadorwhateveritis,andthere'sadisconnect.Sowhyisitthatpeoplehavestrongopinionsandtheyexpressthemeveryday,buttheydon'twanttogoandmakethatcommitment.Andtome,that'sthecentralissuehere.Howdoweconnectthosepiecesandalsolookatitinthewidercontextofalltheothersystemsinourcountrythatarenotworkingwell?

S871:39 Ithinkyou'reright.Ithinkpeopledoneedto--thereissomepersonalresponsibilitythere.IthinkthoughthatwhatIwastalkingaboutbeforeisthatmakingeasierforpeopletogotovotewillhelppeople.IthinkonethingthatIreallyliketheideathatSenatorRiveragivestheseciviclessonsinhisdistrict,becauseIthinkthatpeopledon'treallyunderstand.Ithinksomepeopledon'tunderstand.Ithinkpartofitistheydon'treallyunderstand.You'rebombardedaboutthepresidentialcampaign.That'swhytheturnoutishighinthoseelections.Youseeitallthetime,"Ohthepresident.Iknowwhothepresidentis."AndIthinkthatmostpeoplecouldn'ttellyouwhotheircitycouncilmanisortheircongressperson.IthinkthatthatkindofcivicseducationforyoungpeopleisreallyreallyImportantandkindoflackinginthepublicschoolstoday.

S772:36 Twothoughts,oneis[?].Youcanhavemandatoryvoting,asAustraliadoes.It'sactuallyasmallfinefornotvoting.Hardlyanybodyeverhastopaythefinebecausetheconceptofmandatoryvotingactuallyleadspeopletovote.Secondpossibility,yougotovote,yougetalotteryticket[laughter].Itwouldbeillegalnowbecauseitwouldbetreatedasvotebuying.Butyoucouldactuallyhaveasystemofuniversallotterytickets.Everybodywhovotesgetsalotteryticket.

S173:04 Timeisnotourfriendanymoreandwe'rerunningoutofit.Beforeweend,whatupheredoyouthinkarethebiggestopportunities-I'mgoingtofirstdirectthisto

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SenatorRivera,andthenalsoI'dlikeTrevortoweighin-whatarethebiggestopportunitiesforourelectoralsystemasyouseeandasyouseedevelopinginourcountryandinNewYork?

S773:25 AbigpartofhowIseemyjob-andItryto[?]thesecivicsclassestoexplainittofolksinmydistrict-istomaketheconnectionofwhatitisthegovernmentactuallydoes.TogiveasensetopeopleofwhatitisthatwhytheyshouldcarewhoIam,whotheother62senatorsinthestateofNewYorkare,whotheother150membersoftheAssemblyare,whatarethedecisionsthatwemake,whatdowedo.Ithinkthatthebiggestopportunityrightnowbecausewe'rehavingtheconversationaboutreform,we'rehavingtheconversationaboutgovernmentbeingbetter,beingmoreresponsive,becausewe'rehavingtheconversationaboutmoneyandpoliticsandwhatitmeans,Iwouldfeelthatprobablythebiggestopportunitiestoeducatethefolksthataredisengagedatthispoint.ItisachallengethatItakeoneverysingledayinmydistrict.Unlikemypredecessor,whobythewayasaquickparenthesis,mypredecessorisinfederalprison.Hispredecessorjustgothomefromfederalprison,andhispredecessoralsowenttoprison.We'retalkingaboutengagementandtheideathat--

S?74:37 [inaudible][laughter].

S774:39 Doyouknowhowlowthebaris?Justdon'tgetindictedandyou'llbeallright,andI'vebeentheresixyearsandtheonlytimesIvisitedprisonhasbeeninmyofficialcapacity.Anyway,buttheideaofthatengagementit'spartofIbelievethatanybodywhoishere,whoisalreadyengaged,itisyourresponsibilityandyourobligationtogetotherpeopleengaged.Togetotherpeopletounderstandwhatgovernmentdoes,understandwhyitisimportantforustoengageingovernment.Thebottomlineiswhetheryoulikeitornot,whetheryouknowwhoweareornot,whetheryouvoteornot,westillmakedecisionsthatimpactyourlifeeverysingleday.Partoftheobligationthatwehaveasengagedpeople,andthere'stheopportunity--

S175:20 Halfanhour.

S775:22 Partoftheobligationthatwehaveasengagedpeopleistoengageotherfolksandtogetthemtoreallyparticipate,andnotonlyvotingbutcomingtothingslikethis,educatingotherpeople,givingsomemoney,doinglikethisguydidinmycampaignandbustinghisassfor900hours,really?

S675:38 Somethinglikethat.

S775:39 Oh,mygod.[?]SoIbelievethat'sprobablythe--certainlyforthepeopleinthisroom,andanyonewhomightbewatchingandwhathaveyou,itistoengageothers.Tokindofgetthemin,letthemknowwhatdoesgovernmentdo,whyshouldyoucareaboutit,andthengivethemoptionsastowhattheycanactuallydotoengage.

S476:00 Ithinkoursystemofgovernment--thepointaboutcitizenresponsibilityisareallykeyonebecauseoursystemofgovernment,arepresentationalgovernment,onlyworksifcitizensareinvolved,andvoting,andholdingtheirrepresentativesaccountable.That's

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thefreedomwehaveistoselectourrepresentatives,topayattentiontothem,tovotethemoutifwedon'tlikethem.Andifyouhaveasystemwhereveryfewpeopleareparticipatinginmostoftheelections,thenyoulosecredibility.Soyoucanlookatitandsay,"Isthatbecausetheythinkpeoplearebought,thattheydon'thaveinfluence,they'renotbeingheard?"Youcantrytoaddressthose,butsomehowyouhavetogetcitizensbackintotheprocess.

S476:53 Ilovedthelotteryidea.I'msittinghereinmybrainthinking,"Well,wecouldhaveoneticketeachcongressionaldistrict,youcouldhaveoneforeachsenaterace."Ifthecountryisnotpayingattentiontopolicybutiswillingtogoandpayattentiontoelectionsbecausetheirbribed,thatmaybeworthdoing.Butwe'vehadtonightawholeseriesofsuggestions,ofwayswecouldimproveoursystem,intermsofvoterregistration,non-partisanship,campaignfinance,deregulation,whateverthesearewe'renotdealingwiththemasacountry.NewYorkhashadaterribleelectionsystemforyears,itusuallytakesacourtcaseforajudgesays,"Youcan'tdowhateverXorYextremethingyou'redoingthatpreventspeoplefromparticipating."Butthepartiesthendon'tcarrythatball,orelectiveofficialsdon'tinNewYorkandacrossthecountry.Soit'snotthatwedon'thaveideasandwaystoimprovethesystem,it'sthatwe'renotactingonthemandsomakingthisapriorityandsaying,"Wereallyneedtolookathowtomakevotingmoreaccessible,moreefficient,moreappealing,"arethingsIthinkweneedtodoandconcentrateonasacountrytomaketherestofitwork.

S378:16 Thankyou.Ithinkwehavesomewonderfulopportunitiestoactuallygetagripoverwhattheproblemsisandwhatthesolutionis.Whatwehaveheardis-andTrevor'sright-overthelast50years,there'scertainlybeennoimprovementinthewaypeopleviewtoppoliticiansasbeingcorrupt,andinfact,overthelastfewyears,decadeorso,theviewhasgottenworse.Andwhatthathasdemonstratedisthetwohugecampaignfinancelawsthatwerepassedin'74and2010thatresultedinthousandsofpagesofregulationsandlaws,isanutterfailurebecauseitwasbeingsoldwiththeideathatitwouldcreatetrust,andofcourse,thetrustis--wehavelesstrustnowthanwe'vehadinalongtime.

S279:08 Secondlywehavefoundout-andwe'vehadtestimonialshere-aboutthefactthatmoneydoesn'tbuyelections.Imeanifmoneyboughtelections,governorBush,JebBushwouldbethenomineeoftheRepublicanparty.YourememberayearandahalfagoheandsuperPACraised$125million.Andwaymorethananybodyelsewasabletomartialandtheyendupwithbasicallyzerodelegates.

S279:38 Andofcoursethey'vebeentalkingabouttheirownparticularracesorwhatishappeninginNewYorkthe[?]racesetcetera.Itisjustsimplyabigcanard,falsestatementthatmoneybuyselections.There'smanymorefactorsthatgointoit.Butthereisaproblemwithalloftheseregulations,andtheotherthingwe'veheardisalsotruethatthere'snotenoughinformation.Peopledon'tknowwhotheircongressmanis.Theydon'tknowwho--Imeanhowmanyinyourdistrictknewthatyouwerethestatesenator[laughter].Andyouwouldwantandhopethatmanymore

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wouldknowwhoyouare,whatyourvotingrecordisandallofthat,becauseyou'rerepresentingthem.Butthefactis,thepeoplehavea--youknow,theywouldknowwaymoreaboutthelatestthingthatoneoftheKardashiansaredoingthenwho'stheVicePresidentoftheUnitedStates.

S280:30 Sowehaveabiglackofinformationandknowledgeaboutthepoliticalsystem.Thegoodnewsandtheopportunityisgettingmoremoneyinpolitics.SuperPAC'sandCitizensUnited'sdecisionhasresultedinmoremoneyinpolitics.That'sagoodthing.Weneedmoreinformation.Raisingcontributionlimits.Almost20statesoverthelasttwoelectioncycleshaveraisedoreliminatedtheircontributionlimits.Andthat'sagoodthing.Moremoneytothecandidatesthataregoingtooffice,moremoneyinthesystem,amoreaccountablesystembecauseyoucanactuallyvoteagainst--youknow,youcan'tvoteagainstthesuperPAC,butyousurecansomebody,youknow,astatesenatorwhoreceivedthatmoneythatyoudon'tthinkisagoodthing.Moreaccountability,moretransparency,moremoneyinpolitics.It'safailedexperiment.It'stimetogiveitup.It'stimetotrythefirstamendmentagainandwe'regoingtobealotbetteroff,Ithink.Andthat'stheopportunity.

S181:34 Lastcomment,ProfessorBriffault.

S581:37 theNewYorkers--isthisoneworking?ThenewYorkersintheroomhaveanunusualopportunityactuallytochange.Inoneyearandtwomonths,inNovemberof2017,there'llbeontheballotforallNewYorkersthequestion"Shouldtherebeastateconstitutionalconvention?"ThiswasThomasJefferson'sidea,thatevery20yearsthepeopleshouldbeabletoremaketheirconstitutionandthroughsomeoddityofwisdomin1846ourconstitutionmakersinNewYorkputitinourconstitution.Thelastseveraltimesit'sbeenvoteddown.In'57,and'77,and'97thepeoplesaidno.Maybebecausetheydidn'tthinktheconstitutionneededfixing,maybetheydidn'tthinkitwouldsucceed.Onemoreshot.2017,thereisthechancethatthingslikechangingtheboardofelections,adoptingcampaignfinanceregulation,adoptingethicsreforms,adoptingnon-partisanredistrictingcomission,andanythingelsethatyouthinkmightimprovethepolicicalprocessthatyoudon'tthinkisgoingtocomeoutofthestatelegislature.Inpartbecauseithasn'tuntilnow.Youhaveashot.

S582:41 Now,it'sabigshot.Manypeoplewillbeagainstit.Lotsofpeoplearequitesatisfiedwiththestatusquo.Andevenifitpasses,insomewaysthebiggerchallengewillbetheelectiontheyearaftertoselectdelegatestothisconvention.Hopefullyeverybodyinthisroomwillrun,asthewayofacheck-andthesenatortoo-asanoffsettothetraditionalelectedofficialswhooftendominatetheseconventions,whichiswhytheydon'talwaysgetcreated.But,you'retalkingaboutopportunities,peopleinNewYorkactuallyhaveanunusualopportunitynextyeartobeginaprocessofchangingthefundamentalrulesinNewYorkState.Thinkaboutit.Thinkaboutbetweennowand,notthisNovember,nextNovember.Whetheryouthinkit'sagoodideaandifyoudo,talktoyourfriendsandneighbors.Andifitshouldactuallypassthatwehavethisconvention,someofyoushouldrunfordelegate.

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S183:34 Thankyou.We'reoutoftime.Iwanttothankthepanelandtheexperts.Please,onbehalf[inaudible].[applause]Foreveryonewhodidn'tgettheirquestionsanswereduphere,justrestassuredknowingthatIalsodidnotgetcalledon,soIdidnotgettoaskmyquestions[chuckles]so,you'reingoodcompany.Butthatbeingsaid,wedoencourageyoutoheadovertoimpactny.org.YoucanhitusuponTwitter,LinkedIn,Facebook,grabusonthewayout.Wewouldloveforyouguystogetinvolvedjustpasttonightandcontinuetheconversation.I'mjustgoingtofinishbyaskingyoutodoonethingandthatisvote.Notonlyinyourfederal,state,andlocalelections,also,moreimportantlyobviouslyinourImpactexitpoll[chuckles].Thiswillgiveyouachancenotonlytogiveusanideaofwhatyouwanttoseeinfutureforumsintermsoftopics,butitwillalsogiveusasenseforhowwedid-ascorecardforus-andgeneratesomeinterestingdatathatwecansharewithyoufollowingupfromtheevent.Sopleasedogivesli.doonelastshothere.Letusknowwhatyouwanttotalkaboutnexttime,andwereallydohopethatweseeyouthere.Let'sfinishoffwithalastroundofapplausefortheaudienceandourpanel.Thankyou.[applause]