House battles over campaign finance reform plan
Surprised by the passage, Republican House leaders lobbied hard against the amended measure, securing enough votes to kill the legislation (H.B. 584), originally a noncontroversial bill. The amended measure failed 97-97, with votes predominantly along party lines.
Vitali immediately moved for a reconsideration vote of the defeat of H.B. 584. That vote could come March 13, the first day of session after budget hearings conclude. "We're going to use the next three weeks to lobby hard for this important piece of legislation," said Vitali, who represents the 166th Legislative District.
The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Public Financing Act, which Vitali also introduced in June as H.B. 1650, would establish a public financing system for governor and lieutenant governor races in primary and general elections in Pennsylvania.
Public financing would be funded by a voluntary $5 checkoff on personal income tax forms and through an appropriation from the General Assembly. The state would match qualified contributions to candidates by a $2-to-$1 ratio. Qualified gubernatorial candidates could receive up to $7.8 million in public funding per election. To receive public funding, candidates would have to agree to a $12 million spending limit. Individuals or political action committees could contribute no more than $2,000 to a candidate per election. Participating candidates would have to engage in a series of five debates.
"Public financing attracts quality candidates, reduces the influence of special interest money and encourages candidates to spend more time talking with voters instead of courting large contributors," Vitali said.
Vitali emphasized that the 1998 gubernatorial election demonstrated the need for public financing and campaign finance reform in Pennsylvania.
Republican Gov. Tom Ridge beat his Democratic challenger Ivan Itkin by more than 25 percentage points. Ridge started his campaign with a war chest of more than $5 million. Itkin started his campaign with less than $90,000. He was never able to get his message out.
Other credible and highly qualified candidates were dissuaded from running by Ridge's huge campaign coffers. Voters had no real choice.
Vitali modeled his measure after New Jersey's public financing system, which is considered among the finest in the nation.
The past two New Jersey gubernatorial elections -- Whitman vs. McGreevy and Whitman vs. Florio -- were extremely competitive, largely because of public financing. Both races were decided by less than 1 percent. Unlike Pennsylvania, many qualified candidates were attracted into the primary election. New Jersey voters were given a real choice.
Right now, 14 states have some sort of public financing system set up for gubernatorial elections.