Nine of 10 speakers at a public hearing yesterday on proposed city of Pittsburgh campaign finance reform favored the idea, but the lone opponent was a representative of organized labor, a powerful political force.

"The bill limits the voice of the working class by restricting the amounts that can be given by political action committees," said Dave Vinski of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation, who said he was speaking on behalf of Allegheny County Labor Council President Jack Shea. Unions often create PACs to back labor-friendly candidates.

"Loopholes are always found, no matter how well-intentioned a proposal is," he continued.

All other speakers generally backed legislation by Councilman William Peduto that would bar individuals from giving more than $2,500 to a candidate for city office, and any partnership or political action committee from donating more than $5,000.

"This bill proposes a very common-sense, reasonable approach," said Barbara Grover, a board member of the League of Women Voters. She said 75 cities limit campaign contributions.

"I think you'll be laggards if you vote no on this," added Mark Rauterkus, a South Side resident and member of an advisory committee that has been honing the legislation for years.

Mr. Vinski said the limits would allow two wealthy individuals to contribute as much as an entire labor union's PAC. "If there is to be campaign finance reform, it must be done statewide," he said.

Elsewhere, city campaign contribution limits vary widely. On the low end of the scale, San Diego mayoral candidates can't take more than $320 from a contributor, and a council candidate can only take $270. On the high end, Baltimore elections are governed by a Maryland law that sets limits of $4,000 on donations by individuals, and $6,000 by PACs.

Mr. Peduto's proposal is based largely on a Philadelphia ordinance that survived a legal challenge that went to the state Supreme Court last year.

It would bar anyone who made a $2,500 contribution from getting any no-bid city contracts. The controller's office would be responsible for placing all campaign finance reports filed by candidates on a Web site.

In last year's mayor's race, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl got checks of $10,000 or more from 25 supporters, and Mr. Peduto got one for $50,000 before dropping his bid and refunding part of it.

Mr. Ravenstahl has said he favors posting campaign finance information on the Internet, but that caps on donations might favor wealthy candidates who could pour unlimited amounts of their private money into campaigns. Mr. Peduto's proposal would double contribution limits if any candidate put $250,000 or more of their personal wealth into a bid for city office.

Council expects to hold a special meeting on the proposal next month, and then vote on it.