Campaign Finance Reform Bill
Advances in State House
A high impact government reform initiative took its first major step toward enactment today when the House State Government Committee unanimously passed HB-2162, Rep. Babette Josephs’ campaign contribution limits bill.
"This is a very promising sign” said Common Cause/PA Executive Director, Barry Kauffman. “Everyone on capitol hill knows that campaign contributions drive much, if not most, of what happens in the capitol. To see Democrats and Republicans unite behind a bill that would have a major impact on reducing the influence of special interest campaign money is refreshing. Hopefully this is sign that lawmakers of both parties are getting serious about cleaning up state and local government in Pennsylvania.”
With Illinois and New Mexico passing contribution limits in 2009, Pennsylvania now is just one of only eleven states that still permit individuals and special interest political action committees to contribute unlimited amounts of money to political candidates. Under current PA law people can give public officials five figure, six figure, even seven figure campaign contributions and then turn around and lobby them for special consideration in legislation, on enforcement of laws, and on contracts. They can even donate to judges before whom they may appear.
“Pennsylvania is three decades behind most of the rest of the nation is this critical area of protecting our elections and government from corruption” said Kauffman. The bill limits the amount of money and in-kind contributions that individuals, PACs and parties can contribute to candidates and other political committees. It provides more disclosure of who is making major investments in candidates, elevates penalties, prohibits candidates from using campaign funds to enrich their personal finances, and requires a user-friendly internet accessible data-base for citizens to check up on who is giving money to their elected officials.
The next apparent step on the bill’s journey is the House Appropriations Committee. “Too often in the past, the Appropriations Committee has become the graveyard of reform. We look forward to working with Chairman Dwight Evans to make sure that does not happen with this long-overdue essential reform, and we hope he becomes a leader keeping this bill moving steadily forward to the Governor’s desk. That would send a solid message to the voters that the General Assembly is getting serious about cleaning up our government” said the Common Cause/PA leader.
e-mail from Common Cause/PA
"This is a very promising sign” said Common Cause/PA Executive Director, Barry Kauffman. “Everyone on capitol hill knows that campaign contributions drive much, if not most, of what happens in the capitol. To see Democrats and Republicans unite behind a bill that would have a major impact on reducing the influence of special interest campaign money is refreshing. Hopefully this is sign that lawmakers of both parties are getting serious about cleaning up state and local government in Pennsylvania.”
With Illinois and New Mexico passing contribution limits in 2009, Pennsylvania now is just one of only eleven states that still permit individuals and special interest political action committees to contribute unlimited amounts of money to political candidates. Under current PA law people can give public officials five figure, six figure, even seven figure campaign contributions and then turn around and lobby them for special consideration in legislation, on enforcement of laws, and on contracts. They can even donate to judges before whom they may appear.
“Pennsylvania is three decades behind most of the rest of the nation is this critical area of protecting our elections and government from corruption” said Kauffman. The bill limits the amount of money and in-kind contributions that individuals, PACs and parties can contribute to candidates and other political committees. It provides more disclosure of who is making major investments in candidates, elevates penalties, prohibits candidates from using campaign funds to enrich their personal finances, and requires a user-friendly internet accessible data-base for citizens to check up on who is giving money to their elected officials.
The next apparent step on the bill’s journey is the House Appropriations Committee. “Too often in the past, the Appropriations Committee has become the graveyard of reform. We look forward to working with Chairman Dwight Evans to make sure that does not happen with this long-overdue essential reform, and we hope he becomes a leader keeping this bill moving steadily forward to the Governor’s desk. That would send a solid message to the voters that the General Assembly is getting serious about cleaning up our government” said the Common Cause/PA leader.
e-mail from Common Cause/PA
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