The New York Observer, June 1st, 2007
A wide-ranging list of political figures met with Eliot Spitzer at a closed-door luncheon on Lexington Avenue, organized by the Brennan Center, to discuss his efforts to overhaul the state’s campaign finance laws.
It‘s something Spitzer has been advocating since he unilaterally disarmed by agreeing to a self-imposed contribution limit of $10,000, far below the current legal limit which is more than $50,000.
Spitzer said he and his supporters were “building a universe of citizens who care about ensuring the integrity of our process.” The state’s current campaign contribution limits are “extraordinarily high and bread an air of disrespect for substantive decisions that are made in Albany.”
Engaging the public is a key part of reform plan. “Very often what you hear from those who oppose campaign finance reform is, ‘well, the public doesn’t care,’” Spitzer said. “I think they are wrong. We will prove the public does care.”
Attendees at the event include:
Larry Rockefeller, a Republican, Geraldine Ferraro, Larry Mone, Frederick Schwarz and Hendrik Hertzberg. Also:
Quenia Abreu New York Women's Commercial Committee Richard Beattie, Esq. Simpson, Thacher and Bartlett Candice Beinecke Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Frances Beinecke NRDC Tom Bernstein Chelsea Piers Boykin Curry Eagle Capital Geraldine Ferraro The Global Consulting Group Peter Fishbein Kaye Scholer Harold Ford Debevoise & Plimpton Victor Ganzi Hearst Corporation, President and CEO Hendrik Hertzberg The New Yorker Leo Hindrey Fred Hochberg Milano School , The New School Bob Hormats Goldman Sachs Philip Howard Covington & Burly Joe Ithier NYC Chamber of Commerce James Johnson Debevoise & Plimpton Rob Kaplan Goldman Sachs & Co Derek Kirkland Morgan Stanley Jerome Kohlberg Jay Kriegel Cathy Lasry Peter Lewis Brian Mathis Provident Group Rob McKay The McKay Foundation Terence Meehan Azimuth Trust Larry Mone Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Joseph Potasnik New York Board of Rabbis Al Puchala Signal Equity Partners Larry Rockefeller Marisol Rodrigeuz Partnership for New York City Jane Rosenthal Tribeca Film Festival Fritz Schwarz Brennan Center for Justice Peter Solomon Peter J. Solomon Company Robert Soros Ned Sullivan Scenic Hudson Michael Waldman Brennan Center for Justice Gregory Williams President of City College Tim Zagat Zagat Survey Rev. A. R. Bernard, Christian Cultural Center (by representative) Cesar Perales, Executive Director, Puerto Rican Legal Defense & Education Fund
