Top PAC spenders identified
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share thisHARRISBURG - In an eye-opening report, the Pennsylvania Business Council Education Committee has identified the top 10 spenders among Pennsylvania political action committees in the 2007-08 election cycle.
They are in order are Local Union 98 IBEW, Philadelphia, $6.7 million; Laborers District Council, $3.6 million; PSEA-PACE (teachers union), $2.1 million; Pennsylvania Future Fund (Republican National Committeeman Bob Asher), $2 million; LAWPAC (statewide trial lawyers), $1.8 million; Committee for a Better Tomorrow (Philadelphia trial lawyers), $1.8 million; Carpenters PAC of Philadelphia, $1.7 million; Western PA Laborers PAC, $850,000; labor-oriented Philadelphia Future PAC, $812,000, and Pa Realtors PAC, $772,000.
All told, more than 1,200 PACs spent $126 million during the past two years on state and local races. Pennsylvania's campaign finance law puts no limits on the amount of money a PAC can give to a candidate or a candidate can spend.
Among political party PACs, the GOP state committee spent $10.3 million during the past two years compared to $8.8 million by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. The House Democratic Campaign Committee spent $7.2 million, compared to the House GOP's $5.9 million. Senate Republicans spent $4.7 million, compared to the Senate Democrats' $2.2 million.
The average amount spent per state Senate race was nearly $400,000, while the average amount per state House race was $117,000. Spending rose when "open" seats were at play.
Apparently it's better to have a big campaign war chest than not. In 20 of 25 Senate races, the candidate who spent the most money won. The biggest spender won in 192 of 203 House races.
The business council said its report provides a useful measure of a legal activity.
"Political giving is as American as apple pie," said director David Patti.
Inmate pay
A flap arose last week over the disclosure that inmates at state correctional institutions will continue to be paid during the state budget impasse even while state employees face payless paydays.
Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua, plans to sponsor a bill prohibiting inmates from being paid until an impasse is settled.
"It is bad for employee morale and extraordinarily poor public policy to delay pay for corrections officers while the inmates they guard continue to be paid," he said.
Inmate pay ranges from 19 cents to 42 cents an hour depending upon the type of work they do, according to the state Corrections Department. Inmates mow lawns, clean and do maintenance work. They are paid out of a inmate general welfare fund. Revenues come from vending machines in visitor areas and purchases in prison commissaries.
Trooper honor
A section of Route 611 in Coolbaugh Twp. would be designated as the Trooper Joshua D. Miller Memorial Highway under legislation by Rep. Mario Scavello, R-176, Mount Pocono. Trooper Miller was killed in a shootout last month in Coolbaugh Twp.
Local athletes
Although lawmakers were caught up in the state budget deadline frenzy, they took a moment last week to honor local athletes.
Members of the Abington Heights High School baseball team were recognized on the House floor for winning the PIAA, Class AAA state championship.
Kevin Naniewicz of Scott Twp. was recognized for placing as first-place winner of level-four golf at the Special Olympics Summer Games.
Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-114, Old Forge, presented citations.
ROBERT SWIFT is Harrisburg bureau chief for Times-Shamrock Communications newspapers. E-mail: rswift@timesshamrock.com.
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