Give it up already, folks!

The Supreme Court portion of the site says nothing about Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s recent removal, nor does her biography page.

Maybe the pay raise busted their budget and they can’t afford to hire a web designer.

According to the Commonwealth Department of State Registered Committee List, the Black Clergy PAC is registered as Filer ID# 2009331.  Their registered address is 1608 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19146.  This would seem to indicate that the committee was formed in 2009.  This address corresponds to the address of First African Baptist Church, where Rev. Terrence Griffith is pastor.

According to an official at the Philadelphia County Board of Elections, campaign finance reports have not been filed by any entity with a similar name for several years.  A Right To Know request filed with the Commonwealth Department of State produced one report that was signed on April 15, 2011.  Another Right To Know request asking for other documents dating from 2009 through 2012 was denied on the grounds that the Department of State did not have the documents in question.  The request was appealed to the Commonwealth Right To Know Office, and again denied on the same grounds.  Rev. Griffith was invited to submit information to the Right To Know Office for the appeal.  It is unknown whether any representative of Black Clergy PAC submitted any additional information to the Department of State concerning the appeal.

Rev. Griffith, whose email signature identifies him as President of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, has indicated that he believes that Black Clergy PAC is in compliance with all campaign finance statutes.  When given an opportunity to produce copies of the campaign finance reports in question, Rev. Griffith did not produce any reports, instead indicating that “Colliers and Heath” may have more information about previously filed campaign finance statements.  No phone number was provided for either individual, and FreePoliticalSpeech.com was not contacted by either individual.

One campaign finance report was obtained by FreePoliticalSpeech.com.  It was not in the form of DSEB-502, but was instead filed as IRS FEC Form 3.  It appeared to cover February 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011.  This covered part of 2011 cycle 1 and a small part of 2011 cycle 2.  It was filed by Robert Collier, Sr.

According to the report, Black Clergy PAC received $12,100.00 during the period filed.  The funds came from Nutter for Mayor ($10,600.00) and Friends of Edward C. Wright Judge ($1,500.00.)

Expenses were as follows (use scroll bar at bottom to scroll left-to-right):

Barbara Ford            $600.00     Food Service Catering
Charalynn Howard        $250.00     Work Performed For PAC
Cailette Stevenson      $300.00     Work Performed For PAC
Lillian Henderson       $1.00
Barbara Ford            $1.00
Timothy Henderson       $1.00
Monroe Press, Inc.      $4,062.12

Except where indicated, Black Clergy PAC did not describe the expenditures on the report.  Also, except in the case of Monroe Press, Inc., no mailing addresses were provided for the entities that received funds from Black Clergy PAC.  In addition, all of the expenditures and one of the contributions listed were outside the time frame for which the report was filed.  Finally, total disbursements for the period were listed as $5,512.12, which is not the result one obtains by adding up all disbursements.  Cash on hand at the end of the reporting period is listed at $6,588.00.  No outstanding debt was listed. So, what is known about Black Clergy PAC? According to data published by the Department of State and the Philadelphia Board of Ethics, multiple candidates claim to have given money to Black Clergy PAC and similarly named organizations.  Contributions totaling $120,653.00 were made by the following PACs Black Clergy PAC and similarly named entities from 2000 to 2011.  They are as follows:

Committee/Candidate                    Amount       Description                                        Date
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $10,000.00   CONTRIBUTION                                       11/13/2000
Progress 2000                          $50.00       CONTRIBUTION                                       2/1/2001
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $50.00       SOCIAL EVENT                                       2/3/2001
JIMENEZ, NAZARIO FOR MUNICIPAL COURT   $1,500.00                                                       3/7/2001
TRENT, EARL W.                         $1,500.00    CONSULTING/ENDORSEMENT                               3/8/2001
FANNING, MICHAEL                       $1,500.00                                                       3/12/2001
DYCH, JOE FOR JUDGE COM                $1,500.00    PRINTING CAMPAIGN LITERATURE                     3/15/2001
RAU, LISA M. COM TO ELECT JUDGE        $1,500.00    PROMOTION                                          3/16/2001
JIMENEZ, NAZARIO FOR MUNICIPAL COURT   $1,500.00    ELECTION DAY EXPENSES                               4/3/2001
COHEN, DENIS ELECT JUDGE               $1,500.00    ELECTION DAY EXPENSES-GET OUT THE VOTE         4/3/2001
DEFINO, ROSEMARIE COM TO ELECT         $1,500.00    CONTRIB                                            4/4/2001
PEW, WENDY FOR MUNICIPAL CT            $2,000.00    DONATION                                           4/20/2001
WOGAN, CHRIS CITIZENS FOR              $200.00     CONTRIBUTION (EVENT TICKETS)                       1/24/2005
SAIDEL, JONATHAN FRIENDS OF            $60.00       PURCHASE TICKET                                    2/4/2005
BISHOP, LOUISE CITIZENS FOR            $240.00     CONTRIBUTION FOR ATTENDANCE AT BLACK CLERGY EVENT    2/16/2005
HEFFLEY, MARILYN FOR JUDGE             $60.00       TICKET - LOAN TO COMMITTEE                      2/19/2005
WILLIAMS, MARVIN L.                    $60.00       BENEFIT                                           2/19/2005
MULDROW, BEVERLY                       $120.00     event ticket purchase                               2/19/2005
The Committee to Elect
   Sharon Williams Losier              $300.00     INSTALLATION BANQUET                               2/25/2005
Friends of LeAnna M. Washington        $500.00     ELECTION DAY EXPENSES                               4/15/2005
BRONSON, GLENN COM TO ELECT            $500.00     Contribution                                       4/15/2005
The Committee to Elect
   Sharon Williams Losier              $55.00       LUNCHEON                                           1/11/2006
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $60.00       LUNCHEON                                           1/12/2006
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $60.00       LUNCHEON                                           2/10/2006
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $60.00                                                          4/13/2006
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $26.00       BIRTHDAY CAKE                                      4/21/2006
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $37.00       LUNCHEON                                           5/27/2006
GORDON, ROGER COM TO ELECT             $10,000.00   Contribution                                      10/26/2006
Keeping America Competitive            $100.00      CONTRIBUTION                                       3/15/2007
JONES II, C. DARNELL                   $600.00      Ballot                                             5/10/2007
Eubanks, Joyce Com To Elect            $600.00      election day printing                              5/10/2007
COLEMAN,GREGORY COM TO ELECT           $600.00      Donation                                           5/11/2007
Committee to Elect Ellen Green-Ceisler $600.00      BALLOT                                             5/11/2007
BERRY, WILLIS                          $1,000.00    GOTV printing expense                              5/11/2007
Daniel Anders                          $300.00      contribution                                       5/11/2007
IRVINE, JONATHAN                       $600.00      Printing of ballots.                               5/11/2007
Friends of Judge John Younge           $600.00      ELECTION DAY OPERATION                             5/11/2007
Committee to Elect Charles Hayden      $600.00      Donation                                           5/12/2007
Gregory A. Coleman, Esq.               $600.00      PRINTING COSTS                                     5/12/2007
JUDSON, LINDA FOR JUDGE                $600.00                                                         5/13/2007
Committee to Elect Fran Shields        $75.00       Ticket to dinner.                                  12/4/2008
SEGAL, DAWN A                          $500.00      CONTRIBUTION                                       5/12/2009
SEGAL, DAWN COM TO ELECT               $500.00      Endorsement                                        5/13/2009
Committee to Elect Angeles Roca        $500.00      CONTRIBUTION - GOTV                                5/14/2009
PATRICK, PAULA COM TO ELE
   JUDGE TO SUPERIOR CT                $500.00      Contributions                                      5/14/2009
Committee To Elect
   Joseph C. Waters, Jr.               $500.00      PRINTING COSTS                                     5/14/2009
MULDROW, BEVERLY COM TO ELECT          $500.00      Contribution                                       5/14/2009
ONORATO, DAN FOR GOVERNOR, LLC         $700.00      CAMPAIGN DONATION                                  5/14/2009
ONORATO, DAN FOR GOVERNOR, LLC         $500.00      ELECTION DAY BALLOTS                               5/15/2009
ONORATO, DAN FOR GOVERNOR, LLC         $500.00      ELECTION DAY BALLOTS                               5/15/2009
ONORATO, DAN FOR GOVERNOR, LLC         $500.00      CONTRIB                                            5/16/2009
NICHOLS, CAROLYN H                     $500.00      GOTV                                               5/17/2009
Friends To Elect
   Edward C. Wright Judge              $500.00      CONTRIBUTION                                       5/18/2009
Ladov,Sayde for Common Pleas Court     $500.00      ENDORSEMENT FEE                                    5/18/2009
COKER, DERRICK W                       $500.00      ELECTION OPERATION                                 5/19/2009
Committee To Elect Tom Fitzpatrick     $12,400.00   DONATION                                          10/22/2010
LEVANT, HARRY J COM TO ELECT JUDGE     $12,400.00   DONATION                                          10/22/2010
NICHOLS, CAROLYN H                     $100.00      CONTRIBUTION                                      10/26/2010
FRIENDS OF NYCOLE WATSON               $100.00      CONTRIBUTION                                      10/26/2010
PHILADELPHIA DEM CAMPAIGN COM OF       $15.00       FUNDRAISER                                         2/12/2011
Friends of Seth Williams               $10,600.00   Contribution                                       3/29/2011
GREEN, BILL FOR PHILADELPHIA           $1,500.00    endorsement                                         4/4/2011
Green for Philadelphia                 $1,500.00    BALLOT PRINTING/ADVERTISING                        4/25/2011
Friends of Wayne Johns                 $1,500.00    Endorsement - Election Day ballots                 4/25/2011
Friends of Juan F. Ramos               $1,500.00    Contribution                                       4/25/2011
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown     $1,500.00    ENDORSEMENT / SAMPLE BALLOTS PAID BY CANDIDATE     4/25/2011
Forum 2007                             $1,500.00    Advertising                                        4/25/2011
Friends of Scott Cummings              $1,500.00    Ballot Printing                                    4/26/2011
David Oh                               $1,500.00    CONTRIBUTION                                       4/26/2011
FRIENDS OF ALAN BUTKOVITZ              $2,500.00    Contribution                                       4/27/2011
Friends of Seth Williams               $1,500.00    Election Exp                                       4/28/2011
Forum 2007                             $1,500.00    donation                                           4/29/2011
Friends of Andy Toy                    $1,500.00    BALLOT PRINTING                                     5/1/2011
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown     $1,500.00                                                        5/1/2011
Friends of Cindy Bass                  $1,500.00    CONTRIBUTION                                        5/2/2011
Friends of Curtis Jones, Jr.           $1,500.00    Election Day expenses/printing                      5/3/2011
Friends of Darrell L. Clarke           $1,500.00    Contribution                                        5/3/2011
Friends of Jannie L. Blackwell         $500.00      Printing of ballots                                 5/3/2011
FRIENDS OF MARIAN B TASCO              $1,500.00    Advertisement                                       5/5/2011
Kenney For Council                     $500.00      CONTRIBUTION                                        5/6/2011
Nutter for Mayor                       $250.00      CITY WIDE BALLOT ELECTION DAY EXPENSE               5/9/2011
David Oh                               $5,000.00    GOTV                                               5/13/2011
Frank Rizzo '11 Committee              $1,000.00    EVENT                                              7/25/2011
Friends of Maria                       $500.00      Fundraiser/Golf Outing                             7/25/2011
Green for Philadelphia                 $75.00       event ticket                                       9/30/2011
Friends of Cheri Honkala               $200.00      LUNCHEON - DINNER                                  (no date)

It should be noted that no other similarly named entity appears listed at the Commonwealth Department of State, nor does the County Board of Elections have any knowledge of any similarly named entity.

It is interesting to note that several of the contributions made by other candidates were described as “endorsement” which would indicate that the PACs who gave the money viewed Black Clergy PAC just like anybody else that could be bought or sold.

There is one known instance in which Commonwealth data lists a contribution from Black Clergy PAC to a candidate.  The contribution was for $1,000.00 made to Friends for Fatimah in April 2012.  Friends for Fatimah is the political committee for Fatimah Loren Muhammad, who opposed Rep. Jim Roebuck (D-188) in the Democratic Primary in 2012.

Maybe they think no one will notice.

Carmella M. Fitzpatrick (who has worked for the Philadelphia Republican City Committee “since Abe Lincoln!” according to one Republican insider) and Jeanine Digiannantonio, whose business address is at The Philadelphia Parking Authority, 3101 Market Street, appear to have notarized campaign petitions for individuals that did not appear before them — once in Ms. Digiannantonio ‘s case, and twice in Ms. Fitzpatrick’s case.

Both have had their commissions terminated and are permanently barred from becoming notaries in Pennsylvania ever again.

We here at FreePoliticalSpeech.com are shocked by such behavior, of course.  Being charitable, we would hope that this was the first and only time that Ms. Fitzpatrick and Ms. Digiannantonio ever engaged in this type of behavior.

The Supreme Court portion of the site says nothing about her recent voluntary/forced leave of absence from the court.

And the group photo of all the justices looking all scholarly that includes Justice Orie Melvin still appears under the Supreme Court Justices Home link, and the bio for Orie Melvin is still available.

Wikipedia, on the other hand, has been updated through the efforts of my lovely wife, Barb.

Details, details.

In many cases, these are payments to ward leaders or other community leaders that help ensure that they will support the candidate in question.  While perfectly legal in most cases, it indicates that our democratic process may be bought and sold at a very minute level.

Occasionally, an incumbent politician will give consulting fees to family members or members of his/her staff.  Why does this occur?

One possible explanation is that there is a kickback scheme in play.  The incumbent (who is usually not the chair or treasurer of his committee) still exerts a great deal of influence over his or her campaign finance committee.  He or she may direct that payments are made to staff members or family members, and in some instances, the money paid to these individuals will then be shared with the candidate.  Usually these payments, which can be as much as several thousand dollars in some cases, are not accompanied with an IRS Form 1099, making the money difficult to track for tax purposes.

Neat, huh?