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HARRISBURG, May 3 -- State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, has added her support to legislation that would overhaul Pennsylvania's conduct of elections with regard to monied influences.
Josephs has co-sponsored two bills to reform the state's campaign financing system by tightening existing rules on disclosure and imposing limits on campaign contributions.
"In our democracy today, voter participation is at an all-time low. This isn't because voters are happy and content with the status quo, but because they feel that their votes can't compete with unlimited amounts of campaign contributions," Josephs said.
"Something has to be done to restore the people's faith in our political process. I believe comprehensive reform is part of the answer," she said.
The legislation includes proposals that would require candidates and political committees to file regular expense reports with the state, which would be available to the public online; require the name, address and employer to be listed on all expense reports for contributors who give more than $100; impose contribution limits for individuals and political action committees; and establish an independent Board of Elections to administer the election process and develop a fair campaign code.
Pennsylvania is one of only five states that has no contribution limits, and only limited disclosure.
"Restoring public confidence in government is a tall task, but I believe we can pass meaningful campaign finance reform in this session, and I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner toward that end," Josephs said.
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