[Panel discussion] Do the wealthy dominate our elections?

I received the following message from the League of Women Voters

Do the Wealthy Dominate our Elections?

Co-Sponsors: Common Cause/NY, The Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy


Thursday, September 27, 2007

1:00-2:00 p.m. Discussion

2:00-2:30 p.m. Question and Answer Session



The Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
135 Western Avenue
Albany, NY
Room: Milne 200



Panelists Include:

Michael Malbin, University at Albany and The Campaign Finance Institute

Michael J. Malbin has been Executive Director of the Campaign Finance Institute ( Washington DC ) since it opened in 1999. The Campaign Finance Institute is a nonpartisan research institute affiliated with The George Washington University in Washington DC . Its widely respected studies and reports are frequently quoted in the national media and have been used widely by governmental and nongovernmental actors of both political parties to help shape federal and state campaign finance policy. Malbin is also a Professor of Political Science at the State University of New York at Albany , where he teaches legislative and electoral politics.



Amy Loprest, Executive Director of New York City¢s Campaign Finance Board

Amy M. Loprest was named Executive Director of the New York City Campaign Finance Board in September 2006, succeeding the agency¢s first Executive Director Nicole A. Gordon. Ms. Loprest has served as the Board¢s Assistant Executive Director since 2004 and has held increasingly responsible positions at the CFB during her tenure, including Chief of the Candidate Services Unit and Deputy General Counsel. Ms. Loprest has been a speaker and participant at forums nationally as well as internationally on campaign finance issues and is the author of a report for IFES, an international nonprofit organization that supports the building of democratic societies, titled Transparent Public Funding in Nigeria.



Barbara Bartoletti, Legislative Director of the League of Women Voters/NY

Barbara Bartoletti has been the Legislative Director for the League of Women Voters of New York State since 1988 and a member of the Albany County League of Women Voters since 1978. Barbara oversees all legislation of interest to the League in the state legislature. She lectures statewide on advocacy/issues and citizen participation in government. She does political commentary for Channel 9 News in the Capital Region and comments on good government issues to statewide newspapers, as well as editorial board visits across the state. Barbara was named to Governor elect Eliot Spitzer¢s transition team in November 2006 and was instrumental in providing the new Governor recommendations for a reform agenda.

RSVP at: http://www.commonca use.org/site/ apps/ka/ct/ contactus. asp?c=dkLNK1MQIw G&b=3360447&en=ckKSJhOPL9LXL8MI LfIRKcOUKgI0JcPO JnL6KlN6E