Pennsylvania Democrats Ready to Say the Campaign Finance System
is “Wecht-ed”
Democrats host timely hearing to discuss the impact of large contributions

HARRISBURG, PA – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding the Democrat Policy Committee’s decision to hold a hearing on campaign finance reform on Friday in Philadelphia to discuss the influence of massive third-party organizations’ unlimited contributions and their effect on political campaigns. This hearing comes after Democrat candidate for Superior Court David Wecht received $300,000 from Philadelphia trial lawyers.

“After David Wecht broke his own pledge and received 60% of his campaign funding, $300,000, from a single PAC controlled by Philadelphia trial lawyers, even Pennsylvania Democrats are disapproving of Wecht’s desperate attempts to buy his way onto the bench.  I’m encouraged that members of the Pennsylvania House Democrat Policy Committee will discuss how their campaigns won’t be ‘Wecht-ed’ in the future,” Chairman Rob Gleason said.

To view the PA GOP’s web video, “Justice is not for sale,” click here.

Background:

A release from Representative Sturla’s office states that House Democrat House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on campaign finance reform from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at Philadelphia City Hall, City Council Chambers, Room 400, Broad and Market streets, Philadelphia. State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., and Democratic chairman of the House State Government Committee, requested the hearing. Testimony will focus on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United vs. FEC decision, which overturned campaign finance laws to allow corporations to spend unlimited money to support or oppose candidates for political office.

(Office of Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), “Democratic Policy Committee to hold public hearing

on campaign finance reform Friday in Philadelphia,” Democratic Policy Committee, 11/1/2011)

Trial lawyers give Wecht $300,000 in judge race

“A trial lawyers’ group has given $300,000 to Allegheny County Judge David Wecht’s campaign for Pennsylvania Superior Court….Wecht, a Democrat, reported the contributions from the Committee for a Better Tomorrow on Friday in a campaign finance report covering the five weeks ending Oct. 24”

(Trial lawyers give Wecht $300,000 in judge race. Philadelphia Inquirer. October 29, 2011.)