Harken back to the Philadelphia Clean Elections pledge when we teamed up with individuals and organizations who wanted to put candidates in the city on record in support of a full public financing option for campaigns. It would seem the idea has reached the statehouse, where State Rep.

Public Campaign Action Fund's David Donnelly has a letter to the editor in today's Philadelphia Inquirer praising the new campaign donation limits passed by the city, but urging a move towards Clean Elections public financing as outlined in the Philadelphia Fair and Clean Elections pledge signed by Democratic and Republican mayoral candidates and several city council candidates.

Below is the text of the letter:

Philadelphia mayoral candidate Tom Knox needs to fundraise like Oprah needs to get a paper route: he's a multi-millionaire who's more than capable of self-funding his race. But, he's still raising money so the Philadelphia Inquirer looks at who's giving: apparently much of his support is coming from out of state, and from Philly's wealthy suburbs.

More coverage from yesterday's event announcing the signers of the Philadelphia Fair and Clean Elections pledge. This article in the Philadelphia Inquirer notes mayoral candidate Tom Knox's failure to sign, though his major opponent in the Democratic primary, Michael Nutter, has signed. We've got more on the pledge (29 signers so far!), and pictures from the event here.

Last week saw a flurry of campaign finance activity on the Philadelphia City Council surrounding a proposal by Councilor Jim Kenney to do away with campaign contribution limits. Kenney eventually pulled this proposal and others from consideration, a move the Philadelphia Inquirer praises while recommending that Kenney's proposal for public financing for municipal elections be given consideration in due time.

Philadelphia’s City Council's Law and Government Committee was scheduled to consider a proposal by City Councilor Jim Kenney to change or eliminate the the city's contribution limits for municipal elections in the middle of an election cycle; a move prompted by a wealthy mayoral candidate self-financing his campaign. Abolishing or increasing the limits would set up a desperate dash for cash by all candidates just before the primary; forcing candidates to spend even more time with those who can write big checks, and less time with ordinary voters.