Lobbyist money skews the debate

BIG-BIZ BUCKS BLOCK BILLS
by DAVID SEIFMAN, NY Post

A torrent of massive campaign contributions by corporate and industry interests is blocking five key bills in Albany that, if enacted, would have consumers cheering, an advocacy group charged yesterday.

In a report titled "New Yorkers Pay When Big Money Plays," Citizen Action of New York argued that rivers of campaign cash are unfairly skewing the debate on a range of issues.

"The current campaign-finance system gives too much control over how public policy is made in this state to big-money campaign contributors," said Jessica Wisneski, the organization's legislative director.