|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Mike Storm |
State Rep. Greg Vitali |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitali testifies on campaign finance reform proposal
HARRISBURG, Aug. 14 – State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, testified today before the House State Government Committee on campaign finance reform legislation he has introduced that would reduce the impact of special interest money on Pennsylvania elections.
Vitali explained to the committee that his legislation, the Gubernatorial Public Financing Act (H.B. 1497), would limit individual campaign contributions and provide public financing in races for Pennsylvania governor and lieutenant governor, as well as limit campaign spending for candidates who accept public financing for their campaigns.
“The current campaign fund-raising system in our state is among the worst in the country,” Vitali explained. “We have a campaign contribution free-for-all with no limits on how much people or organizations can give to candidates, leaving too many of our elected officials beholden to special interests once they take office.
“The people of Pennsylvania are demanding that the General Assembly enact true reforms to restore integrity and accountability in state government,” he said. “My legislation is a first step in that direction. With my legislation we can move toward ensuring that campaigns for governor and lieutenant governor are based on issues and ideas that can help our residents rather than on how to raise enough money from the right group of people just to compete.”
Under Vitali’s bill, contributions to candidates for governor and lieutenant governor from individuals, groups and political action committees would be capped at $5,000 in the primary election campaign and $5,000 in the general election campaign. In addition, candidates could choose to receive public financing for their campaigns in return for agreeing to a voluntary campaign spending limit of $22.5 million. Candidates receiving public financing would receive a two-to-one match, meaning for every $1 raised, a candidate would receive $2 in public financing, up to $14.5 million.
In addition to voluntary spending limits, the legislation would also require candidates for governor and lieutenant governor who accept public money for their campaigns to participate in two primary election debates and three general election debates. Public funding for gubernatorial campaigns would be financed by a $5 voluntary check-off on state income tax returns and a General Fund appropriation.
Vitali’s Gubernatorial Public Financing Act is modeled after New Jersey’s successful public financing system for gubernatorial candidates, which Vitali said has resulted in competitive elections focused primarily on the issues. The proposal has passed the House in previous sessions, but has not been acted on by the Senate.
###mds/2007/mjh
l:\print\releases\CampaignFinanceHearing.166