01 15 09 Mayors Proposal AMENDED.doc viewable at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddznxj6h_628f469rtgr
Peduto amendments: viewable at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddznxj6h_629hnmb2kdh
No bid contracting legislation: viewable at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddznxj6h_630kbfmp3hq
Lobbyist legislation for City of Pittsburgh: viewable at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddznxj6h_631hfzmnrfv
Contact Lobbyist Disclosure Act: viewable at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddznxj6h_632hs8j5gg8
FAQ for all reform bills: publicly viewable at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddznxj6h_633d8rs68fb
Campaign Finance Reform FAQs
Q) If I am running for City Council, how large a donation can I accept from an individual or a PAC?
A) You can accept $1,000 in the primary and another $1,000 in the general election from an individual. You can accept $2,000 in the primary and another $2,000 in the general election from a PAC.
Q) If I am running for Mayor or Controller, how large a donation can I accept from an individual or a PAC?
A) You can accept $2,000 in the primary and another $2,000 in the general election from an individual. You can accept $4,000 in the primary and another $4,000 in the general election from a PAC.
Q) Do these limits apply to me if I run for countywide office, statewide office, or a judicial position?
A) No. These limits only apply to people running for City Council, Mayor, or Controller.
Q) What happens if a wealth individual runs in the campaign against me?
A) If a person declares that they will spend more than $50,000 of their own money in the race, than your limits are doubled.
Q) What information will the online database contain?
A) The City Controller will maintain an online database that contains all campaign contributions as well as all contracts awarded by the City, all TIF’s approved by City Council, and all other applications of public dollars approved by City Council.
No Bid Contracts Reform FAQs
Q) Does this mean the lowest bidder automatically gets the bid?
A) No, the lowest responsible bidder wins the bid. Responsibility can include previous experience working with the City, expertise, etc.
Q) Do all contracts have to be bid?
A) No, a contract valued at under $30,000 does not need to be competitively bid.
Q) What about professional services that are specialized like engineers, architects, and lawyers? Will this reduce the quality of services we receive?
A) No, RFPs can include specific criteria so that the best specialized professional services can be received at best price.
Lobbyist Registration FAQs
Who qualifies as a lobbyist?
Anyone who spends more than 30 hours in any consecutive three-month period, with at least one direct communication with a City official or employee, for the purpose of attempting to influence municipal legislation on behalf of any other person.
Q) Are there exceptions to this?
A) Yes. Anyone who is not paid, but just volunteers time for a cause is not required to register. Also, any public official does not have to register.
Q) What does it mean to register?
A) A lobbyist must annually register with the City Controller and provide details of the company that they work for and the clients they represent.
Q) Does it cost anything to register?
A) Yes, there is an annual registration fee of $100
Q) What is the punishment for failing to register?
A) A person who knowingly this law can receive civil penalties of up to $2,000. If the court determines that a violation was intentional, the court may order that the defendant be prohibited from acting as a lobbyist.
Q) How does this registration handle nonprofits?
A) People representing non-profits that receive public funds to serve indigent persons are not required to register.
Lobbyist Disclosure FAQs
Q) What is the purpose of this legislation?
A) This legislation requires any company responding to an RFP to publicly disclose in their RFP response whether or not they have paid any fees to cover lobbying, finder’s fees, consultant fees, etc.
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