"Caravan of Corruption" Highlights Need for Publicly Financed Fair Elections

10/23/2012 (Updated 11:36:06 PM)

Fifteen politicians that have been enmeshed in scandals were profiled Tuesday night in Binghamton at Atomic Tom's as part of a two-day, nine-stop tour dubbed the "Caravan of Corruption: a Decade of Dirty Dealings" in an effort to highlight the need for publicly financed Fair Elections in New York.

Activists were displaying cardboard cutouts of political figures they said are corrupt.

Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan nominated Senator Tom Libous as a corrupt politician at the event.  Ryan recently pushed for an investigation into a downstate law firm hiring Libous' son, which, according to a witness in a political corruption trial, was in exchange for a promise of more business.

Organizers said money is fueling misconduct.

"We are highlighting corruption in politics and how politicians have been influenced by big money donors and powerful people who are dictating to them exactly what they should do while they're in office," said Upstate Campaign Manager of Citizen Action Lawrence Parhem.

"The reason I'm here is because I don't want to see corporate money influencing our politicians, as it pertains specifically to fracking," said Environmental Organizer for Citizen Action Isaac Silberman-Gorn



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