The Moreland Commission released its preliminary report on government corruption to reporters yesterday at 6:05 p.m. But the panel quietly put out a revised version on its website shortly after.
Some commission members–including the three co-chairs–were said by sources to be livid to learn that the report in several instances did not include language changes agreed upon earlier in the day.
The objectionable language was in the section on public financing and pertained to the word “majority.”
During its meeting Monday morning, the commission went over the final draft of the report and agreed to remove any reference to the “majority” of the commission recommending public financing. Instead, it would be referred to as a commission recommendation even with seven members dissenting.
One section had said: “A majority of the Commission believes that a system based on New York City’s successful model of a 6-to-1 public funds match on small contributions up to $175 is the correct approach for New York State.”
Another said: “This dissent is put forth by seven of the Commissioners who disagree with the majority’s view of public financing.”
The commission agreed to remove the word “majority” in each case.
Commissioner Executive Director Regina Calcaterra was not supposed to send out the final report until the three co-chairs could review it to make sure the agreed upon changes were made, sources said. But the report–without the changes being made–went out to reporters anyway.
When the co-chairs saw what happened, they demanded the amended version be put on line. Reporters were not alerted to the change.
Some insiders believe what seems like a minor and technical mistake was deliberate. They say the Cuomo administration wanted to “muddy” the issue of public financing by making it clear the commission was split.
I reported in
yesterday that top Cuomo aides were pushing for a dissenting opinion on the issue. The thinking is that Cuomo, hoping to wind down the commission, can try and push the Legislature to agree to many of the commission’s other recommendations. He then would be able to argue that the
with public financing, an issue that even had the commission split.
Cuomo seemed to play into that today following an event at Madison Square Garden
of “political division” of issue of public finance. He said that on many other issues, “we can move forward.”
One insider laughed when he saw the comments.
“He created the dissent (on the commission),” the source said. “It’s laughable.”
