New Campaign Contribution Limits Introduced

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato introduced to County Council new legislation that sets stricter limits on campaign contributions in today. Under the proposal, candidates for County Council could accept no more than $1000 from any individual and no more than $2000 from any political action committee. Contribution limits would be double those amounts for candidates in countywide elections, including the offices of Sheriff, Treasurer, County Executive, Controller and District Attorney. If accepted, this measure would give Allegheny County the strictest contribution limits of any county in the state. Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald says he wants to go even further with the proposal, along with some others in state government. "I think this is one of those regulations that makes sense statewide, but that's not to say that we can't do anything locally if the state doesn't act. I know Representative [David] Levdansky [of Washington and Allegheny Counties] for years has been trying to push this issue, and I think he deserves a lot of credit for that," says Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald says there has not been a lot of feedback from the public on this issue, but council members will speak to their constituents before taking the matter to vote.