ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Political campaign donors will no longer be subject to a $150,000 limit in contributions per year to candidates or political groups in New York, the state Board of Elections says.
The state limit on annual campaign donations by an individual, or limited liability company, can’t be enforced in light of recent federal court decisions, board members decided last week.
Consequently, those who can afford to will be able to contribute to as many statewide and legislative candidates, political parties and political advocacy committees as they wish, subject only to the recipients’ restrictions.
For New York’s statewide races - governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller - candidates can accept only $41,100 from an individual for the general election. The limit is $10,300 for state Senate candidates and $4,100 for the Assembly.
The elections board - two Republicans and two Democrats - agreed the $150,000 individual annual aggregate donation limit is unenforceable following rulings by the federal court in Manhattan and the U.S. Supreme Court, spokesman John Conklin said.
“That stands as an opinion of the board,” Conklin said.
The court decisions were discussed in executive session last Thursday about pending litigation, and the board made a public announcement at the end of the meeting, he said.
The state’s $5,000 corporate donation limit for a calendar year remains in effect, though that’s being challenged in another federal lawsuit. Each affiliate or subsidiary, if it’s a separate legal entity, has its own limit.
Party committees can receive up to $102,300 from any individual within a calendar year and up to $5,000 from a corporation. There are no limits on contributions to party housekeeping accounts for maintaining permanent party headquarters and staff, according to the elections board.
The board notes on its website that “contribution limits were established to, among other things, curtail the amount of influence, through money, that a contributor can have on elections and the election process.”
The board has traditionally had over-contribution audits, where the committee receiving money beyond the limits will be asked to refund it, Conklin said. Recipient treasurers know their limits and usually return extra money right away, he said.
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