Letters to the Editor by MoH Volunteers - The Gift Ban
"Tell your legislators to pass a Gift Ban" (Penn Live Patriot News)
by Susan Roller, MarchOnHarrisburg volunteer
Originally published in the Penn Live Patriot News on May 27, 2021
The following is in response to two recent articles published by PA Spotlight and The Caucus and presented in the Harrisburg Patriot News, among other PA newspapers.
Articles: “Taxpayers foot the bill to run PA’s full-time legislature, but are blocked from many details” May 12, 2021 and “Websites don’t back claims of transparency” May 16, 2021.
The ways in which residents of Pennsylvania are shut out of decision-making in Harrisburg that are documented in your recent article are just the latest examples of what citizens’ groups like MarchOnHarrisburg (MoH) have been working on for years.
A financial fiasco permeates Pennsylvania’s politics. Members of the House and Senate are allowed to cash in on the expenses highlighted in the article and receive unlimited gifts. They only need to report those over $250. Lobbyists and special interests can offer them meals, lodging, vacations, entertainment, and other perks for listening to their various priorities.
While many legislators say they support a gift ban, or at least responsible gift-reporting, not enough will sign on to sponsor such legislation, nor will leadership allow it out of committee and to the floor of the House and Senate.
Four years ago, I participated in MarchOnHarrisburg’s voter-led lobbying campaign for a commonsense Gift Ban. Despite popular support, inaction from leadership sabotaged our efforts.
Now, leadership in the General Assembly like Senate President Jake Corman continues to turn a blind eye to the culture of corruption in Harrisburg. The need for a law against legal bribery becomes even more obvious. MarchOnHarrisburg asks our Legislators to do their well-compensated jobs with integrity, pass a gift ban, and earn back the public’s trust.
“PA Needs a Gift Ban for Lawmakers” (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
by Claus D. Makowka, volunteer member of MarchOnHarrisburg’s Pittsburgh Chapter
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review on May 26, 2021
Pennsylvania legislators have a strong sense of entitlement. The recent article “From frames to furniture to food, here’s how Pa. lawmakers spent millions of taxpayer dollars” (May 12, TribLIVE) shows how generously the state taxpayer supports the perquisites of legislators in running their offices.
If that isn’t bad enough, legislators also feel entitled to receive unlimited gifts. In 2018, legislators only reported 3% of the $1.5 million in gifts and hospitality reported by lobbyists, reflecting the lack of meaningful enforcement for failing to report gifts. Pennsylvania is one of only eight states with no specific law limiting gifts to public officials, and year after year the Legislature has refused to take up bills to change this.
Passing a gift ban is long past due. In the 2019-20 session, House Bill 1945, a gift ban bill, passed the House State Government Committee but was never called to a vote on the floor of the House. In the current session, the similar Senate Bill 401 Gift Ban has been introduced in the Senate.
I strongly urge Sen. David Argall to move this bill forward in the Senate State Government Committee and Sen. Jake Corman to support action on this bill before the full Senate. The time for action is now.
“The Gift Ban” (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
by Murielle McCarthy, MarchOnHarrisburg Volunteer
Published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on May 12, 2021
Gifts are unethical and drown out our voices. We can be the 43rd state to end this form of legalized bribery and unequal influence by demanding that Corman get the Gift Ban passed. - Murielle McCarthy
I read with interest “One ritzy fund-raiser shows how tough selling lobbying reform in Pa. will be” (May 4). The $30,000 event that Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman attended is a prime example of our broken state government. It is legal for our state legislators to accept gifts. But this practice can end now with Corman’s endorsement of the Gift Ban, SB 401.
MarchOnHarrisburg and other advocates have been working for decades to persuade our state legislature to eliminate gifts of cash, wining and dining, and golf trips like Corman’s. Pennsylvanians pay for the salaries, health care, and pensions of our legislators. Yet legislators feel entitled to receive gifts from monied interests.
Gifts are unethical and drown out our voices. We can be the 43rd state to end this form of legalized bribery and unequal influence by demanding that Corman get the Gift Ban passed.