FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Zachary Stalberg
President and CEO
(215) 557-3600, ext. 106
(267) 241-1628 (cell)

COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY LAUDS APPELLATE DECISION UPHOLDING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

Pledges Vigorous Opposition to Efforts to Eliminate Limits 42 Days Before May Primary

PHILADELPHIA – April 3, 2007 – The Committee of Seventy today vowed to continue its aggressive support of Philadelphia’s campaign finance ordinance, the constitutionality of which was upheld in an April 2nd Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court decision. Congressman Chaka Fattah, a Democratic mayoral candidate who seeks to eliminate all contribution limits, has announced his intent to appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

Zack Stalberg, Seventy’s President and CEO, expressed the organization’s hope that Pennsylvania’s highest court would not agree to hear the case. If they do, Stalberg said that Seventy will file an amicus brief in support of the Commonwealth Court’s decision. Seventy also participated as an amicus in the Commonwealth Court case in favor of the City’s ordinance.

“The Commonwealth Court was resolute in its determination that Philadelphia has every right to enact campaign contribution limits,” said Zack Stalberg, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, “To discard contribution limits would invite a return to the very pay-to-play culture that the City’s ordinance was specifically designed to end.” With the May 15th primary election only 42 days away, Stalberg predicted that the removal of any limits would result in a fundraising frenzy “unlike anything we have ever seen.”

“This election has already been disrupted by repeated attempts to dismantle the contribution limits both in City Council and in the courts,” continued Stalberg. “Given the municipal scandals this town has endured, it is unfortunate that some candidates continue to believe that they need to raise unlimited sums of money in order to win the election.” With the exception of millionaire Tom Knox, Stalberg observed that the other Democratic mayoral hopefuls are raising and spending money according to the same contribution limits. “I wish that allowing a wealthy candidate to spend his own money was not constitutionally permissible, but it is,” Stalberg said.”

In the event Fattah’s appeal is granted, Stalberg reiterated Seventy’s intent to again participate as an amicus – this time to urge the state’s highest court to uphold the decision of the Commonwealth Court. “Seventy’s mission is to safeguard the integrity of the election process,” he said. “Maintaining the existing limits, particularly after those limits have been ruled constitutional and given the proximity of the election, is a matter of the utmost importance. If it decides to grant the appeal, I have every trust that the Supreme Court will view it the same way.”

The Committee of Seventy is a non-partisan organization conducting a permanent campaign to improve the Philadelphia region by demanding ethical conduct of public officials, safeguarding elections, promoting government efficiency and educating citizens.

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Last Updated: April 3, 2007