State Senate Republicans on Tuesday prevented campaign finance reform legislation from being passed this year with a laughable last-minute proposal to seek expert advice on the matter.

Campaign finance reform was one of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's top priorities this year, and he had the support of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on a proposal to reduce the maximum donations candidates could accept.

Critics say the state's current law - and the lack of oversight in enforcing it - has allowed corporations and lobbyists to contribute large sums of money to campaigns in hopes of influencing legislation or being awarded lucrative government contracts.

Good-government groups say limiting the maximum contribution individuals may contribute is essential to overall reform in state government.

But Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has made the issue a personal one, claiming Spitzer's own wealth makes him immune to the difficulty some candidates have raising money.

His argument is hollow, though, considering the personal wealth and political connections many state Republicans - Bruno included - enjoy.

On Tuesday, with just days to go before the planned June 21 end of the legislative session, the Senate Elections Committee announced it would hold a series of round-table discussions with “experts” from across the country on issues related to campaign finance reform.

The first of these talks, involving as-yet-unnamed “nationally-recognized scholars,” is said to be scheduled for June 27, a week after the current legislative session ends.

Campaign finance reform could have happened this year. Unfortunately for Spitzer - and all New York - cooperation from Senate Republicans was needed to get it done.