For Immediate Release: September 23, 2010

For More Information: Chris Scoville, 518.810.9604

In Swanky Albany Fundraiser, Donovan Asked Skelos & Cronies

for $10,000 Each
Citizen Action Protested Event and Calls for Fair Elections Campaign Finance Reform

Albany, NY - Proving his talk about wanting to reform Albany is nothing more than a political
campaign slogan, Republican Dan Donovan tonight once again demonstrated that he's unwilling
to support meaningful reforms, regardless of whether it's ethics, election, or Wall Street reforms.
Today at 5:30 PM Mr. Donovan joined Republican Senate Leader Dean Skelos at 74 State, an
exclusive Albany hotel, and asked the Senator's cronies to pay up to $10,000 to play. Senator
Skelos, the most powerful Albany Republican, has blocked reform year after year.

"It's great to say you'll clean up Albany and protect the taxpayers, but walking the walk is a little
harder. It took Dan Donovan one fundraising opportunity to drop these supposed principles, and
he chose to fund his campaign with help from the ultimate Albany insider and enemy of reform,
who defeated sweeping ethics bills, opposed campaign finance reform, and put Pedro Espada a
heartbeat away from being Governor, said Chris Scoville, Capital District Organizer with Citizen
Action of New York.

In 2009, Senator Skelos defeated two ethics bills that would have revamped the Commission on
Public Integrity, toughened oversight over the Legislature, and strengthened campaign finance
laws. Most recently in February of 2010, Senator Skelos and his Republican conference again
united to deliver the "death knell" for Albany ethics reform, voting against the override of the
Governor's veto of the 2010 ethics bill.

On the other hand, Donovan's pledge to shift the Attorney General's office away from Wall Street
reforms and regulations is closely aligned with Senator Skelos' longstanding agenda. Senator
Skelos has been a long time proponent of Wall Street tax breaks and subsidies.

Donovan's cash grab came on the same day that the House of Representatives Committee on
Administration voted in favor of the "Fair Elections Now Act," which would significantly reform
federal campaign finance laws. In exchange for pledging to reject big dollar contributions,
candidates would be eligible for a matching grant similar to New York City's public campaign
finance program. The legislation is supported by a diverse and broad coalition, including the
Sierra Club, the NAACP, the Brennan Center for Justice, Citizen Action of New York, Demos and
Public Campaign.

"It's time we return to government of, by and for the people instead of government of, bought and
paid for by Wall Street and corporate interests. That's why we want fair elections reform passed
now. Congress moved that bill forward today while Dan Donovan proved why this reform is so
vital to our democracy." said Scoville.

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