Kick Out Council
UPDATED; UPDATED AGAIN
Sigh: another day, another dollar in Philly’s “pay-to-play” politics.
Gaetano talks about the same rumor I have heard: That City Council, in response to the self funding of Tom Knox, is about to repeal the campaign finance limits for the Mayor’s race.
That’s right: because Tom Knox can finance himself, the rest of the candidates, including the creature of the Democratic Machine himself Bob Brady, are getting nervous. Y’see, I know a number of people involved with local politics, and the general sentiment is that Brady’s fundraising wasn’t going so well until last week. And why should it? Brady represents typical politics as usual. This is the same guy that attacked my friend Albert Yee when he ran for committee, smearing him, and the progressive groups he works with, as a republican. Then there’s Chris Bowers’ report on the state Democratic Commitee meeting:
While most of my time in Harrisburg was spent meeting new people and “networking,” by far the most striking event was the Philadelphia caucus meeting this morning. To put it as bluntly as I can, the caucus is in shambles, and is almost certainly the weakest link within the state party as a whole…
During the three meetings since I have been elected, it has been made clear that only one thing is expected of us as members of the Philadelphia caucus: total obedience to Congressman / Party Chair Bob Brady during the endorsement process for statewide Democratic primaries. In the same speech every meeting, this has repeatedly been phrased as being “loyal” to Bob Brady. The theory, we are told, is that Philadelphia has far more influence over the statewide endorsement process if we vote as a unified block. The more we are loyal, the more power for Philadelphia, and the smoother the endorsement process. Huzzah.
Failure to demonstrate sufficient loyalty results in severe consequences. For example, last year when a friend of mine on the state committee vote for Chuck Pennacchio during the endorsement for US Senator, she was immediately un-endorsed, without warning or consultation, for re-election to the state committee by the local ward leaders in her district. As such, she did not appear on the sample Democratic ballots that are handed out at polls on Election Day, and was easily defeated by the party endorsed candidates candidates. Keep in mind that was the only time she voted against Bob Brady’s wishes during her entire four years on the state committee, and that the ward leaders in her area didn’t even talk to her about their endorsements after that point. Now, maybe it is just me, but it is hard to imagine that being told exactly how to vote, and facing consequences of electoral defeat if you do not vote how you are told even once, is exactly an incentive toward building a active Democratic or viable, broad coalition of any sort.
As regular readers know, I am no fan of Michael Nutter, but I will give him credit for his efforts to reform campaign finance in Philadelphia. Cronyism has hurt this city in more ways than I can count, and that includes the disgraceful way that casinos were shoved down our throats by sell-out, self-interested hacks like Vince Fumo, and handwringing saps like DiCicco who want credit for running to the front of the anti-casino parade after the deal had alrady been inked.
I could go on about the corruption in our city, from the refusal to provide and fund a proper recycling program, to the appointment of councilmembers, who are supposed to be duly chosen by the voters, to the bug in the Mayor’s office leading to corruption convictions of the Mayor’s associates, including the Mayor’s own brother (again).
And now, because Bob Brady and a bunch of inside operators are so scared of losing a mayoral election to Tom Knox, Councilman Kenney introduced a bill overturning hard-won finance limits in the Mayoral race.
Capping campaign spending is a noble concept. Public financing of campaigns is equally venerable. But both are wishful thinking in an imperfect electoral system in an imperfect world. Candidates will always find ways to get around public financing and around spending limits. They will simply resort to dirtier, more surreptitious means of building press and securing votes.
Brilliant rationale, just brilliant. For that matter, why bother passing laws at all Councilman Kenney, since criminals don’t bother to obey the ones we already have?
This comment by YPP member gaetano sums it up:
Second, it is not really about an equal playing field, these campagin finance laws–it is about access. While special interests and firms who do business with the city may not be able to get work due to the pay to play regulations, what stops them from otherwise exerting pressure on issues like tax breaks, reinvestment funds, eminent domain issues. Nothing.
What the Councilman’s bill does is open the door wide open (again) for the casinos and their ilk to buy favor with incumbents on city council. It’s a cowardly act that says “we can’t win on the merits of our arguments and on the work we’ve done for the City.”
If anything, this action makes me MORE likely to vote for Tom Knoz, a man I know practically nothing about. Someone needs to remind kenney et al that Knox may have a lot of money, but money can’t buy stage presence, oratory skills, empathy, or people skills.
And it makes me angry as hell to see a Councilman backing corruption: not surprised, just angry.
Frankly, I am coming to a similar conclusion that PA Clean Sweep movement arrived at: kick them all out. Every single one of Philadelphia’s council members. Verna? Out. Kenney? Out. Cohen? Out. Campbell? Out. Krajewski? Out. Every single one of them. Fumigate the building, and start fresh.
UPDATE: The text of the bill, below.
AN ORDINANCE
Amending Chapter 20-1000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Political Contributions and Expenditures,†by providing that if a candidate for Mayor makes contributions of his or her own resources in excess of a specified amount to his or her own campaign, then no contribution limits will apply to candidates for Mayor, provided that contributions that otherwise would have been prohibited must be immediately reported to the City Commissioners and the Board of Ethics; all under certain terms and conditions.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 20-1000 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 20-1000. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.
* * *
§20-1002. Contribution Limitations.
* * *
(6) The limitations imposed by this Chapter shall not apply to contributions from a candidate’s personal resources to the candidate’s candidate political committee (“Candidate’s Own Contributionsâ€).(a) [However, if such contributions] If a Candidate’s Own Contributions total $250,000 or more (regardless of the time period over which such contributions are made), then the contribution limits set forth in this Section for all other candidates for that City elective office shall double.
(b) With respect to candidates for Mayor only, if a Candidate’s Own Contributions total more than $2,000,000 (regardless of the time period over which such contributions are made), then no contribution limits shall apply to candidates for Mayor, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, provided that any contribution that would have been prohibited but for this subsection (6)(b) must be reported to the City
Commissioners and the Board of Ethics within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect immediately.
No, no potential for abuse there. Welcome to Philadelphia, Mr. Trump, may I take your contribu I mean your coat? Now, where did you want that casino again?
UPDATE 2: Stunned by Knox poll, council ready to rewrite reforms
Kenney said the change was necessary in the name of fairness.
“The campaign finance limits have opened the door to a candidate who buys City Hall,” he said. “We have unintentionally created an opportunity for an unlevel playing field.” [snip]
Noting that the most enthusiastic supporters of the measure–including Kenney and Councilwoman Carol Campbell, who spoke at length in favor of the bill in a rare speech on the Council floor–were Brady supporters, Nutter said: “It’s very clear that the primary beneficiary of this legislation would be Congressman Brady…We don’t need special legislation for special friends.”
Brady and Knox are the only white candidates in the five-man field, and many observers believe Knox’s story of having risen from public housing to business triumph could resonate among blue-collar voters who might otherwise support Brady.
Translation: “We want our guy to win, and we’ll throw the rules out the window to make that happen.” Like I said, it’s inside operators scared to campaign on the merits of their ideas and their service to the city. If you think Bob Brady, head of the Philadelphia Democratic Machine, is going to lack for funds and media support, than I have a bridge to sell you.
Supported by those bastions of ethical behavior, Mayor Street and Carol Campbell.
February 1st, 2007 at 8:07 pm
I was at a breakfast lecture this morning with Zach Stalberg from Committee of the Seventy speaking. You might be interested in my very brief recap.
Stalberg seems to think voter outrage is going to hit fever pitch next year – so perhaps you really will see some new faces in city government. Between the pay raise issue and the Kenney legislation, politics as usual seems to be wearing off here. In fact, Stalberg guessed it could be a historic election that changes everything.
I hope he’s right.
February 1st, 2007 at 8:41 pm
We need some new faces here. yes, there’s something to be said for experience and seniority, but it seems a lot of Philly politics (never mind the state of national politics) can be summed up in the words “incumbent protection racket”.
So I’m not too sympathetic to Kenney and anyone that supports this bill. For example, Marty Weinberg had a barrel of money when he ran, endorsed by Rendell, but that didn’t do anything to mitigate his shitty personality, his lack of a base, etc etc etc…
February 1st, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Business as usual, Brendan, business as usual. As you know, I believe Tom’s the only guy who can come in and clean up this mess – because he IS outside the whole backscratching system that rules the city.
I can’t figure out all the people who automatically attack Tom for being rich, saying he wants to “buy” City Hall. What, exactly, do they think he intends to do with it, anyway? His goal is to give it back to the people who live here.