How LLCs Put Big Money in New York Politics

During this election cycle, more than $50 million has poured into New York races thanks to certain types of companies. That's because for decades, state law has considered limited liability corporations — or LLCs — to be the same as human beings when it comes to campaign donations. And one of the biggest beneficiaries this year has been Governor Andrew Cuomo.

As of mid-August, nearly $8 million of those dollars have gone toward Cuomo's campaign for a third term in Albany, despite his regular calls for the state election board to change the rules. That's about 20 percent of all the cash he's collected, and more than any other candidate or party committee. A new investigation by City Limits and The Investigative Fund studied LLC contributions going back to the 1990s. City Limits executive editor Jarrett Murphy says New York gives a lot of power to its executive. And Cuomo is an especially powerful governor.

"His control over the budget, the budget's control over policy, have all expanded," said Murphy. "Money follows power, and the governor's office is where the power is."

For more on the investigation into how LLCs affect New York politics, listen to the full conversation above.