A new report shows New York Governor Andrew Cuomo collected more than $361,000 dollars and the Legislature raked in over $1 million dollars from gambling interests leading up to the November 5th referendum that would legalize more casinos.
Common Cause New York compiled the campaign contribution totals from 2011 to July 2013.
Soon after, the governor and legislative leaders changed the wording of the referendum to an unusually rosy tone, promising casinos will bring lower taxes, more school aid and more jobs. Good-government groups have criticized the unusual wording of the referendum that must be decided by New Yorkers.
The law enacting the referendum had once prohibited campaign contributions from gambling interests, but that was dropped during closed-door negotiations.
The Common Cause report was released Monday.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.