Three cheers for Thompson!

From the Daily News:

Democrat Bill Thompson, who has made anger over Mayor Bloomberg's push to overturn term limits a hallmark of his campaign, pledged today to put the question of whether the new three-term limit should remain back to the voters if he's elected.

Thompson told the DN's editorial board it "probably makes sense to ask the voters what they think" instead of convening another Charter Revision Commission, as Bloomberg has promised to do (with Ron Lauder's help, of course).

Asked: "So if you win, will you...?" Thompson replied: "Put a referendum back to the voters? Yes."

Also from the Daily News:

The CFB today agreed with an allegation by Bill Thompson that political contributions to committees that support candidates made by Mayor Bloomberg using his vast personal wealth are, in fact, campaign expenditures and should be reported as such.

This is an about-face for the board, which has never before subjected personal spending to disclosure requirements.

However, the decision won't have any immediate effect on Bloomberg - or any other candidate who made similar contributions in 2009 - because the board won't be instituting this new rule until 2010. So, there will be no violations or fines in this cycle.

From the NY Times:

“I understand very well that at first glance this issue may have appeared to be little more than an ill-advised decision on the part of the mayor,” he told a crowd of about 400 at Hunter College in Manhattan.

“But I believe it is much more than that. I believe New Yorkers have the right to have their votes respected. And I believe that Michael Bloomberg’s complete and utter disregard for the democratic process was a defining moment for all of us.”

Photo of Waterfowl for Thompson rally.