Gift Ban

Gift Ban

Legislators should be responsive to the will of the people — not gift-giving lobbyists.

Lobbying and bribery is written into Pennsylvania's laws.

In Pennsylvania, lobbyists can legally bribe legislators.

There are no limits on how much lobbyists can “gift” public officials in Pennsylvania.

Millions of dollars
are unreported
 every year.

Gifts valued at over $250 or travel, lodging, and hospitality greater than $650 must be reported by legislators…
but even that isn’t enforced.

The Gift Ban
would change that.

A commonsense Gift Ban bill will forbid lobbyists from bribing our public officials, while providing for commonsense exceptions (like gifts from family members) and low-value items (like a bottle of water.)

Upcoming Events

Events
All Out to Harrisburg: Gift Ban Action
Jan 7
All Out to Harrisburg: Gift Ban Action

We’re coming back to Harrisburg on the legislature's first day back to hold our elected leaders accountable and demand they pass the Gift Ban and Make Bribery Illegal this session.

Blogs

Blog
We pushed, they panicked.
2022
We pushed, they panicked.
2022

Here’s how legislators protected their swamp and killed the Gift Ban bill on September 12th— but our efforts are inevitably draining it.

2022
Mobilization to pass Gift Ban sends legislators into panic on first day back in session
2022
Mobilization to pass Gift Ban sends legislators into panic on first day back in session
2022

Both parties scrambled to hold last-second meetings on the Gift Ban where party leadership fought against our effort to pass the bill.

2022
Two Democracy Warriors Arrested for Attempting to Deliver Messages to Our Representatives
Nonviolent Direct Action
Two Democracy Warriors Arrested for Attempting to Deliver Messages to Our Representatives
Nonviolent Direct Action

We delivered this message in front of a symbolic "Wall of Corruption'' constructed from 203 cardboard “bricks,” one for each State Representative, highlighting their complicity in maintaining Harrisburg’s culture of greed and corruption.

Nonviolent Direct Action
MarchOnHarrisburg launches Majority Against Corruption Campaign
MarchOnHarrisburg launches Majority Against Corruption Campaign

Many in Harrisburg are guilty of corruption, all are responsible for making it illegal.

Will the next governor pass a Gift Ban? We asked, see who answered.
Will the next governor pass a Gift Ban? We asked, see who answered.
Ho, Ho, Ho, End the Quid Pros!
Nonviolent Direct Action
Ho, Ho, Ho, End the Quid Pros!
Nonviolent Direct Action

With legislators who seem content to be on Santa’s naughty list, cashing in their relationships with lobbyists while so many Pennsylvanians suffer, is it any wonder that people are losing faith and trust in our government?

Nonviolent Direct Action
Crashing Corrupt Corman’s Fundraiser
Crashing Corrupt Corman’s Fundraiser

On October 7th, after months of silence by Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and his continued failure to bring the Gift Ban to a vote, more than two dozen MarchOnHarrisburg activists from across the state converged at the Toftrees Golf Resort in State College where Sen. Corman was holding one of his annual fundraisers.

The Gift Ban (HB 1009) passes out of the House Committee!
The Gift Ban (HB 1009) passes out of the House Committee!

The Gift Ban is on the move! On October 25th, the Gift Ban (HB 1009) was unanimously voted out of the House State Government Committee, a crucial first step towards the Gift Ban becoming law. For four years, our volunteers relentlessly marched, lobbied, and engaged in nonviolent direct action to make this win possible, and we're incredibly proud of their hard work.

The Pennsylvania Legislature should be embarassed
Nonviolent Direct Action
The Pennsylvania Legislature should be embarassed
Nonviolent Direct Action

Our banners spanning the Capitol steps on June 9th made sure that our legislators, our audience, anyone passing by, and the media couldn’t miss the shameful truth that despite 33 Gift Ban bills being introduced over the past 20 years, our legislature has made the choice over and over to put money and power over the well-being of Pennsylvanians.

Nonviolent Direct Action
Letters to the Editor by MoH Volunteers - The Gift Ban
Letters to the Editor by MoH Volunteers - The Gift Ban
From Quid Pro Quo To Quid Pro No! The decades-long battle to ban bribery in Pennsylvania
From Quid Pro Quo To Quid Pro No! The decades-long battle to ban bribery in Pennsylvania

When the Gift Ban is signed into law, it will be the culmination of not only years of advocacy by MarchOnHarrisburg, but also by other anti-corruption advocates who demanded action for decades before us. Here’s a look back on the history of the Gift Ban.

Recap: The Week of Action for the Gift Ban
Gift Ban, Nonviolent Direct Action
Recap: The Week of Action for the Gift Ban
Gift Ban, Nonviolent Direct Action

With only a few days left in the legislation session, we ramped up our Gift Ban campaign the last week of September demanding the bill be called to a vote.

Gift Ban, Nonviolent Direct Action
Gift Ban Passes in Committee!
Gift Ban Passes in Committee!

We’re one step closer to passing the next bill on our legislative agenda!

Our Actions Forced Speaker Turzai to Co-Sponsor the Gift Ban!
Nonviolent Direct Action
Our Actions Forced Speaker Turzai to Co-Sponsor the Gift Ban!
Nonviolent Direct Action

Nonviolent civil disobedience makes it happen! Immediately after two nonviolent direct actions, Speaker Turzai co-sponsored HB 1291: Gift Ban for Public Officials. A major victory in the fight to end corruption in Pennsylvania!

Nonviolent Direct Action