Cuomo proposes some public funding of campaigns

Cuomo said adopting such an approach to campaign finance would reduce the huge influence of money on elections and limit the power of incumbency.

"We have a government that we can be proud of," the Democrat said in last week's State of the State speech. "Let's build on that pride, and let's have elections that New Yorkers can be proud of also."

Cuomo also seeks lower maximum donation amounts and increased enforcement by the state Board of Elections, which has been so understaffed for decades that it couldn't dent a growing backlog of accusations.

The idea isn't new. It's popular with underfunded challengers who need campaign finance reform the most to reduce a well-known incumbent opponent's campaign cash advantage, although many challengers drop the issue once they are in office. Twenty-four states have some public financing of campaigns, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.