Wednesday, August 20, 2003

By Jeffrey Cohan, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Campaign finance reports for candidates for Allegheny County offices will begin appearing on the Internet within two years.

County Council unanimously approved an ordinance last night that will give Internet users access to a database of campaign contributions and expenditures.

Also last night, council approved an ordinance that seeks to prohibit extended idling of diesel vehicles.

Council President Rick Schwartz's campaign finance bill does not require candidates to file their reports electronically. But those reports that are filed electronically will be posted on the county's Web site, effective April 1, 2005.

By Jan. 1, 2007, all reports will be posted on the site, regardless of whether candidates file them electronically or on paper.

Currently, those interested in viewing campaign finance reports must go to the County Office Building.

A coalition of organizations, including local chapters of the League of Women Voters, NAACP, AARP and Common Cause, advocated making the reports available on the Internet.

Councilman Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, secured unanimous approval for his anti-idling bill, which was supported by environmental groups.

Under the bill, a truck or bus driver would receive a warning for a first offense, a $100 fine for a second and a $500 fine for a third. But the bill does not specify how long diesel drivers can legally idle before violating the law, leaving it to the county Board of Health to establish time limits.

Some council members and environmentalists are concerned that the board might kill the bill by refusing to set limits.

"They [Board of Health members] might just sit on it," said Myron Arnowitt, Clean Water Action's regional director.

Fitzgerald initially proposed a two-minute time limit for idling under normal weather conditions, but removed the limit from the bill's final version out of fear of usurping the Board of Health's power.

Council scheduled a 4:30 p.m. closed-door session for Tuesday to discuss the Board of Health's powers and obligations.

E-mail this story   Print this story