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HARRISBURG, March 8 -- State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., has announced that she intends to bring up for a committee vote next week a bill that would ensure Philadelphia could set its own campaign finance rules.
"In 2003, Philadelphia City Council approved landmark campaign finance legislation to reduce the influence that campaign contributors have on city government -- that 'pay-to-play' opportunity," Josephs said. "However, since then, two different judges have provided two conflicting rulings on whether city council has the authority to establish these campaign contribution limits.
"I strongly support Representative Dwight Evans in his efforts to reform the city campaign contribution system. The legislation that I will bring up for a committee vote Monday, with the intention of moving it out the State Government Committee, will directly address this issue," said Josephs, chairwoman of the committee.
The bill, introduced by Evans, would explicitly give the city of Philadelphia the power and authority to regulate public and private campaign finance laws and regulations for municipal candidates, clarifying city council's ability to do so.
The apparent confusion results from two different laws: the home rule act for Philadelphia and the state election law. The city of Philadelphia operates under a home rule charter, which gives it the power to set its own regulations, however, state election law also provides the requirements for public office candidates across the state.
Philadelphia City Council implemented a city ordinance in 2003 that limited campaign contributions from individuals to $2,500 and from political committees to $10,000. In 2006, Common Pleas Judge Allan L. Tereshko ruled that the ordinance was unconstitutional, while Common Pleas Judge Gary S. Glazer affirmed the city's power to enact the ordinance.
Similar legislation passed the House last year, but failed to be taken up in the Senate.
"If this bill becomes law, the issues surrounding constitutionality of the city's efforts to limit the influence of big money donors in city politics through campaign contribution limits will be addressed, and the legislature will have forcibly made the point that Philadelphia does have the authority to do so," Josephs said.
Monday's State Government Committee meeting will take place at noon in 60 East Wing of the state Capitol.
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