John Baer: Campaign-finance reform? Show me the money
AS STATE lawmakers begin circulating required paperwork to mount their re-election campaigns, here are a few things to think about.
AS STATE lawmakers begin circulating required paperwork to mount their re-election campaigns, here are a few things to think about.
Members of Philadelphia's delegation to Harrisburg average 17.5 years in office, close to eight terms.
Two-thirds of the city's 26 representatives and seven senators were elected more than a decade ago; one-third were elected in the '80s; two - John Perzel and Frank Oliver - were elected in the '70s.
No wonder there's so little legislative support for term limits. No wonder when you think "Legislature," the word "progressive" never comes to mind.
And this crowd collectively raises millions of dollars every election for almost-never-competitive races, in some cases without opponents.
Any wonder there's no appetite for campaign-finance reform?
The big money comes from unions and lawyers.
The citizens' lobby Common Cause has a new Web site (www.ourphiladelphia.org) showing top donors to local officials. Following cash flow from 2001 to 2008 offers some interesting items.
For example, unions are the No. 1 giver to 24 of the city's 33 lawmakers. Trial lawyers are top givers to four others.
The Web site lists just the five largest contributors to each lawmaker, but, even so, the totals are staggering: 13 unions gave more than $3.52 million.
Common Cause development director James Browning says that there's a Philly "disconnect" in that, nationally, unions support campaign-finance reform.
(To put this giving in perspective, the legendary political bank, now-federal prisoner Vince Fumo, contributed $3.3 million during the same period, according to Common Cause. But Fumo gave to dozens of political committees throughout the state and to a number of statewide efforts, including nearly $250,000 to Bob Casey's '02 run for governor and $200,000-plus to Gov. Rendell's '06 re-election campaign.)
The biggest overall donors to Philly lawmakers were Laborers District Council, $1.29 million; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, $897,882; and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, $569,900.
Top union-money recipients were Democrat Bill Keller ($488,000 from electricians), Republican Perzel ($456,750 from carpenters) and Democrat Evans ($150,000 from laborers).
Evans is in leadership, and Perzel was for much of the time in question. Keller is more of a mystery. He's easily won re-election since '02, never getting less than 78 percent of the vote. In '02, he had no opponent in either the primary or general election. He did not return a call seeking comment.
Electricians union chief John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty tells me that "there's no one better" than Keller in pushing for and creating jobs. He cites waterfront and Convention Center development, and says that Keller uses statewide contacts to lobby "on behalf of our issues."
But Keller's electrical bankroll likely is also tied to the '08 primary. It featured a feud between Doc and Fumo. Doc backed Keller. Fumo backed and gave generously to Keller's opponent, Christian DiCicco. Keller won.
Other big union-money recipients include Democratic Sen. Vincent Hughes ($98,850 from District 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and Democratic Rep. Mike McGeehan ($73,400 from Ironworkers Local 401).
Unions generous to other lawmakers represent painters, teachers, transit workers, cement masons and plumbers.
Trial lawyers, through their statewide political-action committee or their local PAC (one of my favorite PAC names: Committee for a Better Tomorrow) were top givers to Republican Dennis O'Brien ($57,440) and Democrats Mark Cohen ($26,000), Babette Josephs ($26,000) and Kathy Manderino ($12,750). Manderino is not seeking re-election.
All this money, especially for primaries, pays to keep things as they are.
Common Cause state director Barry Kauffman says, "We call it 'the wealth primary.' Win the money challenge and you don't have a real primary."
Again, this is just top donations for legislative seats that pay $78,315 (though they're worth six figures with perks, benefits and pensions). The total giving is clearly much higher. As are the odds against things much changing. *
Send e-mail to baerj@phillynews.com.
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