Who's Buying Our Politicians?

It might be the root of all evil, but it's hard to wage political war without it.

In Pennsylvania, where there's no limits on the amount of money that can be raised or spent in any local or state race, people with money can buy elections, drowning out the voices of those with nothing.

It's time for a change, but our campaign finance system lurches forward with no meaningful reform in sight. People with money like it this way. 

Campaign finance reports, which must be filed periodically in the elections office, can at least help you follow the money.  But in most cases, you have to make a special trip to the elections office.  Not many people - even reporters - have the time.

Right now, the  year-end reports are being filed.  They reveal that, recession or not, it's business as usual for local politicos in both parties.

We all know that developer Lewis Ronca would love a TIF tax break at Martin Tower.

And campain finance reports reveal that last year,  he lined the campaign coffers of both Bethlehem City Council President Bob Donchez ($500) and J. William Reynolds ($470). They're both up for re-election this year, and would have to vote on any TIF proposal that made it past the school board. 

DA John Morganelli's term is up, too. Over the last year, he raked in $87,874.37 from well-wishers, including people who work for him and lots of $250 checks from defense lawyers. Morganelli is sitting on a $130,000 mountain of cash.

Even the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, is playing the game. His war chest for a District Council seat is sitting pretty, at $38,500. Last year, he accepted $500 from Eckert Seamans, the law firm hired by Northampton County to broker Gracealde's sale. Abe Atiyeh's business partner gave Angle another $2,000. Atiyeh, incidentally, is negotiating terms with Northampton County for a treatment center in West Easton. 

Now Bob Donchez, Reynolds and Morganelli are all men of integrity. Ron Angle is a close friend. But when they accept money from people who are dealing with them in their elected capacities, isn't this legal bribery?

Angle, who claims to have had previous relationships with both Eckert and Haddad, denies this money buys anything. "I wouldn't sell my vote for $500 or $50,000," he barks. Then how about $60,000? How about $500,000? I gotta' tell you, when any pol claims he can't be bought for $50,000, I immediately think of high class hookers who are just negotiating price.

In 2009, Northampton County Executive John Stoffa was so concerned about undue influence that he refused to take a dime from anyone. He funded his own race for Executive completely from his own pocket. That's laudable, but how many people can afford to do that?

What could help are "clean election" laws, under which qualifying candidates can raise their own money or opt into public financing, which will even match those so-called educational ads.

Clean election laws exist in seven states and two cities. Arizona's Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, claims, "I got to spend time with voters as opposed to dialing for dollars, or trying to sell tickets to $250-a-plate fundraisers."

Maine's Chris Rector, a Republican, likes it, too. "I really had no interest in having to go out and spend my time fundraising. I wanted to be able to talk about the issues door-to-door with my constituents and Clean Elections gave me the opportunity to do that."

There's been no sudden rush to reform Pennsylvania's antiquated elections laws. Too many fundraisers.