Bill Green
- City Hall
Room 599
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 - P: (215) 686-3420
- F: (215) 686-1930
- Green's Website
Council Member, At Large
| 1 | International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers | $50,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Brown & Connery, LLP | $10,000 |
| 3 | Edison International | $10,000 |
| 4 | Pennsylvanians for Better Leadership PAC | $10,000 |
| 5 | Pepper Hamilton, LLP | $10,000 |
About Green's Top Donors
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Gov. Ed Rendell called IBEW “the most politically influential union around,” in an April 30, 2008 article in the Philadelphia City Paper. As long-time leader of the IBEW and former treasurer of the city Democratic Party, John Dougherty has been a kingmaker in city politics, and an endorsement from Dougherty is often followed by an infusion of campaign cash from other sources, and volunteers to help with getting out the vote. The extent to which Dougherty and IBEW depend upon campaign contributions to wield influence was dramatized in 2007 when Dougherty joined U.S. Rep. Chakah Fattah in filing a lawsuit alleging that Philadelphia did not have the power to limit campaign contributions to candidates in city elections. As part of their lawyers’ arguments in Nutter v. Dougherty, et al, it was alleged that the Pennsylvania General Assembly had intended to preempt any municipality in the state from making its own campaign finance laws. Dougherty and IBEW have also been strong supporters of expanding legalized gambling and building casinos in Philadelphia, in part because of the potential contracts for IBEW members.
Brown & Connery, LLP
http://www.brownconnery.com/
Edison International
According to its website, “Edison International, through its subsidiaries, is a generator and distributor of electric power and an investor in infrastructure and energy assets, including renewable energy.” Edison is the second-largest utility in California and owns more than 20 power plants around the country. In 1999, its subsidiary EME purchased a power plant in Homer City, PA, for $1.8 billion. In 2003, Public Citizen ranked this plant as the #4 producer of sulfur dioxide in the country. Sulfur dioxide combines with nitrogen oxide to form fine particle pollution, which is a major cause of lung ailments and asthma attacks. In 2007, EME was fined $200,000 by the state for discharging excessive levels of selenium, suspended solids and wastewater in violation of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Act, according to a 7/14/07 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As most electricity rate caps in Pennsylvania expire in 2010, Edison will have the opportunity to compete for a greater share of the state’s electricity market.
Pennsylvanians for Better Leadership PAC
Pennsylvanians for Better Leadership PAC
Pepper Hamilton, LLP
http://www.pepperlaw.com/
Missing provisions in ethics legislation
Posted April 2, 2010On March 5, City Council Majority Leader Marian Tasco, along with Councilman Bill Green, introduced multifaceted ethics legislation that Green estimates addresses 80% of the recommendations set forth by the Mayor’s Task Force on Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform, discussed here yesterday in regards to lobbying regulation and oversight ...
The soda tax and lobbying reform
Posted April 1, 2010The issue of a soda tax in Philadelphia has quickly become a central dispute in city politics. Notably, citizens and the media have increasingly commented on the soda tax as an issue that will draw lobbyists to City Hall. The Inquirer, in a March 5 article by Patrick Kerkstra, confirmed ...
Wilson Goode Jr.'s term limits and the issue of incumbency
Posted Feb. 1, 2010With the opening of City Council's 2010 session, W. Wilson Goode Jr. introduced a resolution to limit Councilmembers to three four-year terms in office. The bill, co-sponsored by Bill Green, is intended to give more citizens an opportunity to serve on the Council. Goode Jr. began his third term ...
Hurry Down Sunshine
Posted Jan. 6, 2010Think of the scaffolding that has moved around the walls of City Hall in recent years as the building was cleaned. Every part of the exterior was cleaned, not just the face you see from the Convention Center, or the face that tourists see from the steps of the Art ...