Newsday published an op-ed from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on fusion voting and adopting public financing by 2022. The full op-ed is below:

It takes big money to run for political office in New York, especially for statewide office. The current campaign financing system erects too many barriers that intimidate and discourage qualified people from seeking public office. Let’s tear down those obstacles and open the path.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the details of the upcoming competitive sale scheduled for October 28 of State of New York General Obligation Refunding Bonds, totaling $916 million.

The bonds will be issued for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding State of New York General Obligation bonds to reduce debt service costs. The bonds would mature over 22 years.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman announced that Gregory Bayard was sentenced to 24 months in prison in White Plains federal court for embezzling approximately $1.4 million from a decedent's estate for which he served as a court-appointed administrator. Bayard had pled guilty to one count of wire fraud on October 23, 2018. U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel imposed today’s sentence.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today the following audits and examinations have been issued.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today he has promoted David Hasso to deputy comptroller for payroll, accounting and revenue services and Randy Partridge to assistant comptroller for local government and school accountability (LGSA). He also announced the appointment of José Manuel Paulino to assistant comptroller for community affairs and Matt Ryan to deputy press secretary.

Many residents of long-term care facilities in New York state lack regular access to ombudsman services due to a decline in the number of volunteers and a severe shortage of paid staff, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced the sentencing of Rochelle Rose to five years’ probation after her guilty plea to grand larceny in the third degree in April. Rose also paid $22,000 in restitution toward the $60,288 she stole from the NYS & Local Retirement System after her mother died.

Rose, 41, stole the funds by keeping her deceased mother’s deposited pension checks and expended them for her personal use, including cellphone and utility bills, insurance and a car loan.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today the following audits and examinations have been issued.

In August, the Office of the State Comptroller approved 1,631 contracts for state agencies and public authorities valued at $2.3 billion and approved approximately 2 million payments worth nearly $9.3 billion. The office rejected 156 contracts and related transactions valued at $230 million and nearly 1,700 payments valued at more than $11.8 million. More information on these contracts and payments is available at www.openbooknewyork.com.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced results of the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s latest successful shareholder efforts to have corporations improve their environmental policies and practices and take steps to address climate risk.