Adjusting campaign contribution limits in Huntington Beach has followed a long and winding since May of last year, when Councilman Don Hansen first suggested raising the limit. On Monday the city council increased it to $500.

HB's limit had been a ludicrous $300 -- one of the most stringent in the county. Hansen proposed increasing that to a slightly less ludicrous $500. There are127,314 registered voters in Huntington Beach. Contacting them is expensive, and raising enough money to communicate a candidate's message to them is tough when contributors are limited to $300.

Not that that reality has intruded into the thought processes of believes in the magic of campaign donation limits. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the "get money out of politics" incantation exerts powerful magic. For example, despite having probably the lowest contribution limits in OC, the HB City Council has had the highest incidence of councilmembers being convicted.

In any case, Hansen's proposal nearly died on the horns of petty internal council squabbling, but managed to live on through eh vehicle of an ad hoc study committee. That process led to the unlikely outcome on of the HB Council voting 4-3 to abolish all contribution limits.

Such a strong blow for liberty was too good to last. Two weeks later, Councilman Gil Coerper  flip-flopped and voted against it on the second reading, causing it to go down to defeat on a 4-3 vote.

During the intervening two weeks, Coerper came under a lot of pressure from the Huntington Beach police union, which opposed abolishing the limit. At the key moment during the discussion, the head of the union entered the council chamber and sat in the middle of the gallery where Coerper could see him. Just for emphasis.

It's no surprise why the union would oppose raising the individual contribution limit. The police union PAC is funded by dues levied on their members, enabling them to amass a large warchest. Compared to that capability to raise and spend money, a councilmember limited to raising money in $300 or $500 increments is at a distinct disadvantage. That makes is difficult for a councilmember to defend himself or herself from a independent expenditure campaign by a vested interest like a city employee union.

Which suits a special interest like the police union perfectly well.

Abolishing limits levels the playing field. Councilmembers would be better able to stand up to special interests because they'd be able to raise competitive warchest and are consequently less fearful of being devastated by special interest IEs.

Councilmember Coerper folding under police union pressure just illustrates the need for a campaign finance system that is transparent, compatible with free political speech and doesn't artificially put candidates at an artificial disadvantage compared to special interest IEs.

Raising the limit to $500 is better than nothing, but far less then the Council could have done -- and almost did.

Late kudos to Councilmembers Don Hansen, Cathy Green and Joe Carchio for recognizing that reality and being willing to abolish this arbitrary restriction of political speech.

Anti-kudos to Councilman Coerper for being flip-flopping under union pressure. And a prayer that Mayor Debbie Cook, Mayor Pro Tem Bohr and Councilwoman Jill Hardy might come to understand the utter failure of campaign contributions limits.