Pennsylvania has among the most archaic election laws in the country. It imposes no campaign contributions limits. The boys in the land of midnight payraises thus far lack the political will to make changes. The result is "pay to play" government, especially in Northampton County. That stopped with Stoffa. He refused campaign contributions from anyone seeking county business. He did so as a matter of integrity, not because of some law.
But there oughta' be a law!
Philadelphia, Northampton and Lehigh County have one thing in common - each is governed by a Home Rule Charter. This form of government is disparaged from time to time, but its significance is revealed in a fifty page ruling released by the Commonwealth Court yesterday. The court sustained the right of home rule charter governments to impose campaign contribution limits on candidates seeking local office.
Several years ago, I attempted to persuade Northampton County Council to adopt an ordinance imposing limits on local candidates. I was told such a solution is unconstitutional. Not a single member of council was willing to sponsor an ordinance.
Now that we have a ruling from the Commonwealth Court, what excuse do you think they'll give now?
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Tuesday, April 03, 2007
5 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I am an officially announced candidate for the lone at-large seat of Northampton County Council, running as an independent.
I want to avail myself of the opportunity of yesterday's Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruling re the funding of political campaigns.
You may know in this regard that as an independent candidate for the open seat to which a majority of Democrats on council appointed Anthony Branco, I have to collect 1,060 signatures of the county's registered voters to get on the ballot.
Like you, I have always supported the Home Rule Charter, arguing, in fact, that it is an integral part of the Commonwealth's Constitution of 1873.
This interpretation that I hold is shared by the owner of Bushkill Glas on Pine Street, one of my strongest allies when Councilman Ron Angle and I and thousands of others in the county fought successfully to keep the Ten Commandments Plague in Northampton County's Courtroom One.
These, like Frank, proprietor of Bushkill Glass, are the voters who are going to drive the evil forces of casino and racino gambling out of the Commonwealth.
I have the evidence to accomplish, right here in the processor of this computer whose screen I now state at and on whose keyboard I now type this comment.
::sigh::
ReplyDeleteBilly wrote...
"I want to avail myself of the opportunity of yesterday's Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruling re the funding of political campaigns."
you want to avail yourself of the ability to do what?
then you wrote...
"This interpretation that I hold "..
and just what IS that interpretation?
Finally, you said...
"I have the evidence to accomplish, right here in the processor of this computer whose screen I now state at and on whose keyboard I now type this comment. "
You have the evidence to accomplish WHAT?
Wow - all those words, all those paragraphs -... and not a single point.
"Mr. Twinkie,"
ReplyDeleteMy apologies. I'm seeking the one at-large seat up for grabs this year on Northampton County Council.
I agree with my friend and fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare that the county's problems lie not with its Home Rule Charter government but with the failure of the county's officials follow it.
Again my apologies and again my thanks.
If you are a voter in Northampton County - Republican, Demcrat, Libertarian,or any other color of the political rainbow, I solicit your vote.
On the Township level, the Home Rule Charter apparently does not apply in Whitehall either.
ReplyDeleteWill Power wrote:
ReplyDeleteI would certainly sponsor campaign finance reform legislation on Northampton County Council. I hope I will be able to in 2008.
Far too many politicians in contested races are addicted to money and form a really bad habit. Then they get elected, and with this mentality of heavy spending, they repeat their actions in public office with our tax money.
No wonder that taxes and debts go up so high. To say they spend like drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors.
Imagine the responsibility and good habits that could be formed with no money, or a fixed equal amount for everyone according to the rank of what they are running for.
Only good could come out of that.
Written by Will Power
PS: I love that John Edwards has spoken about this and supported it.