Democrats who run the State Assembly can’t wait to get back to Albany — to hold a fat cat fundraiser before even banging the gavel for the opening of the 2024 legislative session and attempting to address issues such as the migrant crisis, crime or New York’s sky high cost of living.
The Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee (DACC) and Speaker Carl Heastie are set to hold the fundraiser at the Renaissance Albany Hotel, just down the hill from the state Capitol building on Jan. 8 — the night before Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers the State of the State address, traditionally the start of the new legislative session.
“You are cordially invited to join NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie for an evening reception benefiting the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee. We hope you can join us,” David Waterman, executive director of the DACC, said in an email solicitation to lobbyists and other donors.
The asking price for attendance ranges from: $1,000 to $25,000.
Heastie is listed as honorary chair. Assembly members Jeffrey Dinowitz of the Bronx and Pamela Hunter of Syracuse, DACC co-chairs, also are listed on the invitation.
One stunned veteran lobbyist who received the invite said the early squeeze on donors was a bit much, coming during the holiday season.
“All right, kid. I can’t give you an iPhone because I have to go to a DACC fundraiser,’” the source quipped.
All 211 seats in the Assembly and Senate are up for re-election next fall and scores of fundraisers are typically held when the legislature is in session.
Lobbyists and their clients with business before the state are put on the spot, said the head of one government watchdog group.
“I’d use the word ‘tithing,’” said John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany, likening the relationship to someone giving a percentage of their income to the church.
“If invitees don’t give the Assembly the money, they won’t be in the discussion. That’s the message,” Kaehny said.
He complained lawmakers are also trying to weaken the law that encourages candidates to rely on small donations of $250 to get public matching funds, instead of leaning on big donations of thousands of dollars. Hochul has yet to act on the measure.
Kaehny said the DACC event is used to help protect incumbents up for re-election, because the party campaign apparatus has vastly higher campaign contribution limits.
“Makes sense the DACC is starting early because Democratic Assembly incumbents are worried about the new public matching program helping challengers,” he said.
The DACC can accept unlimited contributions for housekeeping expenses and $138,500 per individual per election cycle for other expenses.
Challengers are limited to $6,000 donations combined for primary and general elections.
But Dinowitz, the DACC co-chair, insisted the early fundraiser was not out of the ordinary.
He said it was “coincidental” that the DACC fundraiser is being held the night before Hochul’s annual address, with movers and shakers attending.
“One has nothing to do with the other,” Dinowitz said.
“The timing is not an issue. I don’t think it matters when a fundraiser is held. If a fundraiser is held close to the adoption of the budget, people would complain about that,” Dinowitz said.
“Sadly,” he added, “campaigns are not free.”
