WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - Good government groups are keeping the pressure on state senator Mike Ranzenhofer in the wake of Ranzenhofer telling 2 On Your Side that he'll once again block a campaign finance reform bill if it comes before his committee in the state legislature this year.
At issue is a bill that would help take the big money out of Albany politics.
On Wednesday, members of Common Cause, Citizen Action, and other groups gathered in the rain outside Ranzenhofer's office in Williamsville.
They want him to permit a vote on a bill that would strictly limit the amount of money that corporations can give to state lawmakers, candidates and their political parties.
Right now, because of a loophole in state election law, corporations can give virtually unlimited amounts of money.Just last year for instance, corporations gave $20 million in campaign contributions.
Last year, the state assembly voted overwhelmingly for the bill, but it was bottled up by Ranzenhofer when it reached his committee on corporations in the senate.
And last week, Ranzenhofer told 2 On Your Side's Scott Brown that he'd kill the bill once again if it reaches his committee this year.
Scott Brown: "Is there anything that can be done to pressure him to let it come to the senate floor for a vote?"
Josh Mumm, Common Cause: "We need constituents who care about this issue to give him a call, visit his office, write him a letter, because when they're (voices are) heard, legislators often take action, so we hope that the public will stand up for what they believe in. Like I said, 90% of voters out there want reforms to address the issue of money in politics and the issue of corruption in government."
Terry VanMeter, Amherst resident: "We elect representatives to express our interests and look out for the common good and by bottling something up in a committee, that's not in the best interests of New Yorkers. And certainly not when it allows big money to influence inordinately above and beyond the public common interest."
The groups wanted to speak with Ranzenhofer on Wednesday, but he was in Albany, so they left for him what Common Cause calls its Clean Conscience Pledge. The pledge includes a commitment to vote for the campaign finance reform bill as well as other ethics measures.
Governor Cuomo has said that if the legislature passes the campaign finance reform bill he would sign it into law the same day.
Ranzenhofer has said he won't support any campaign finance reform bill unless it includes donation limits on individuals, unions, and political action committees.
In a statement to 2 On Your Side, Ranzenhofer said "If Common Cause was serious about reform, then they would stop playing politics and work to achieve real reform."
To contact Senator Ranzenhofer: