Cognetti Faces Questions About Campaign Finance and Political Corruption

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti is making campaign finance reform and government accountability central to her challenge against Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, but federal records show a more complicated picture of political money in northeastern Pennsylvania's competitive 8th Congressional District.

Cognetti has called for banning corporate political action committee donations to federal campaigns, reversing the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision and preventing former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. She also says she will not accept PAC money.

However, a Spotlight PA examination of the candidates' anti-corruption positions found that federal filings show Cognetti has received donations from political committees that themselves receive corporate PAC contributions, including committees connected to Boeing, JPMorgan Chase and UnitedHealthcare.

Bresnahan's campaign website does not outline a specific position on campaign finance reform, and his campaign did not respond to Spotlight PA's questions on the issue. Federal filings show that he accepts direct corporate PAC contributions.

Both candidates support banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks. They also favor congressional term limits, although their proposed approaches differ: Bresnahan signed a pledge supporting a three-term limit for House members, while Cognetti advocates an 18-year limit.

The contest is unfolding as both parties fight to control a closely divided House, giving the race significance beyond northeastern Pennsylvania. The race is considered a toss-up by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report and could help determine control of the House. The debate over political money and ethics therefore has implications beyond campaign rhetoric: voters are being asked to judge not only the candidates' promises, but also their records and financial disclosures.