Why are the unpopular & ineffective Cuomo and Senate GOP education proposals still alive in Albany?
—Because Billionaires!

Governor Cuomo’s education plan does not reflect what parents want for their kids. 70% of New Yorkers disapprove of Cuomo’s test-heavy education plan, his attacks on teachers, and his efforts to privatize public schools.

 So why are these unpopular, ineffective policy proposals still alive in the budget talks?

Probably because a small group of billionaires made millions in campaign contributions to make sure Senate Republicans and Governor Cuomo would keep pushing them, no matter what regular New Yorkers want.

Hedge Clippers has reported on the huge amounts of campaign cash that hedge fund donors supplied to Cuomo and lawmakers – you can read our reports at here.

THE New York Senate Hedge Fund Class of 2014

TERRENCE MURPHY
$2,146,147.08

Murphy, a newly elected Republican Senator from Yorktown, was the hedge fund industry’s chosen candidate during the last cycle. The hedge fund PAC, New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany, spent a staggering $2,146,147.08 on the race, much of it on attacks on Murphy’s opponent, Justin Wagner. Vulture investor Paul Singer, a New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany donor, chipped in $16,800 directly to Murphy’s campaign.

Throughout his campaign, Murphy repeatedly engaged in anti-immigrant attacks and scaremongering about progressive tax policies that would take money away from his hedge fund backers.

SUE SERINO
$847,567.59

Sue Serino’s bid to unseat freshman Democratic Senator Terry Gipson benefited from hedge fund managers’ largesse to the tune of $847,567.59. New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany spent $837,267.59 on her race, mostly on ads attacking her opponent, Terry Gipson. Singer further boosted the campaign with a $10,300 donation.

Throughout the race, Serino presented herself as an all-in, pro-hydraulic fracturing, anti-public financing, anti-SAFE Act Republican. One gambling-themed ad produced by New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany accused Gipson of backing “New York City style campaign finance,” ostensibly meaning public financing of elections, which would greatly diminish the influence of certain hedge fund-backed PACs.

TOM CROCI
$658,131.42

The hedge fund industry spent $658,131.42 electing Tom Croci to the New York State Senate in 2014. New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany spent $647,706.42 in support of Croci. The former Islip town supervisor also received a direct contribution of $10,300 from New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany backer Paul Singer.

JACK MARTINS
$379,769.07

New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany spent $369,469.07 to help New York State Senate incumbent Jack Martins beat back challenger Adam Haber to secure a third term. Paul Singer also supported Martins’ re-election with a $10,300 donation. Apparently, Martins support for billionaire-friendly tax policies were enough to secure Singer’s support, despite his opposition to marriage equality, a cause that Singer supported in 2011.