MEDIA ADVISORY
Doris Haddock, better known as 90-year-old Granny D who walked from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to protest the corruption in campaign financing, will join state Rep. Greg Vitali at a rally in Harrisburg to support public funding for Pennsylvania's gubernatorial races.
Haddock walked 3,200 miles in 14 months, landing at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 29, to push for reforms that prevent laws from being sold to the highest bidders. The New Hampshire resident has been featured in newspapers and television news magazines nationwide for her efforts to fight corruption at all levels of government and reform a national political system that she says is dominated by wealthy interests and well-heeled friends.
Haddock will join Vitali and numerous public advocacy groups for the rally at 1 p.m. Monday, March 13 in the Main Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg. Participating groups include Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, Americans for Democratic Action, Pennsylvania Consumer Action Network, Pennsylvania Common Cause, Pennsylvania Council of Churches, Citizens for Consumer Justice and AARP.
"It's a tremendous honor to have Doris Haddock join us," said Vitali, a Democrat who represents Pennsylvania's 166th Legislative District in Delaware County. "The attention she can bring to campaign finance reform in Pennsylvania can really move it forward."
On March 14, Vitali will call for a reconsideration vote of legislation (H.B. 584) that contains his public financing amendment. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted Vitali's amendment, 98-95, on Feb. 15. Minutes later, however, Republican leaders, surprised by the passage, lobbied hard against the amended bill and narrowly defeated it, 97-97, with the vote predominantly along party lines.
Vitali's Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Public Financing Act would provide up to $7.8 million in public financing for gubernatorial candidates who agree to spending limits. The act would be funded by a voluntary $5 checkoff on Personal Income Tax forms and a General Fund budget appropriation. Individuals or political action committees could contribute no more than $2,000 to a candidate per election.
Vitali modeled his measure after New Jersey's public financing system, which is considered among the finest in the nation because it attracts quality candidates, focuses more attention on issues important to the public and gives voters a real choice in elections. The past two New Jersey gubernatorial elections were decided by less than 1 percent.
Fourteen states have some sort of public financing system set up for gubernatorial elections. Pennsylvania is among one-third of the states that have no limits on political contributions.
For more information about the travels of Doris Haddock, go to her home page at: www.GrannyD.com.