Pennsylvania has no limits on what someone can contribute to a political campaign or how much can be spent, and there are no bills calling for statewide reforms. Two experiments are proposed, but both are limited to Philadelphia.
There are nearly 100 bills pending in the Legislature dealing with election law and campaigns. Yet, none of them calls for sweeping statewide reforms.
Some would actually loosen the few restrictions politicians do face in Pennsylvania, including letting civil service workers take active parts in campaigns, and letting candidates file their required statements of financial interests after the last day for filing a petition.
Another bill would require candidates for paid offices to undergo drug tests.
Only one bill, S.B. 1094, calls for public financing. It's strictly an experiment focusing on Common Pleas Court and municipal judge races in Philadelphia.
The bill calls for the formation of a matching fund, fueled by a $10 checkoff on state income taxes and backed up by other state taxes, that "major political party" candidates for judge could qualify for if they agree to limit their fundraising to $100,000 and their spending to $200,000.
Meanwhile, H.B. 2420, would give First Class cities like Philadelphia the power "to regulate public and private campaign finance for the nomination and election of municipal officers."
The move is supported by Philadelphia's Committee of Seventy and the House Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing on the proposal April 20.
To prepare for such a change, city residents will vote on a referendum in Tuesday's primary to determine if Philly creates its first independent ethics board.
Read more about both proposals in my Daily Rant.
