Pennsylvania lawmakers receive the third-highest salaries in the nation, but still legally take what amounts to bribes from wealthy special interests. Citizens are clearly unhappy with this situation (“Senate needs to give Pennsylvanians a gift ban,” Nov. 6, 2022, TribLive, and “Why won’t lawmakers consider a gift ban?” Nov. 20, TribLive). Earlier this month we learned from a Spotlight PA report that a California company paid its customers in Amazon gift cards for sending positive written testimonies about financial products to Pennsylvania legislators. The intent was to stymie new regulations that would ban questionable home equity lending. The legislators are calling the $50 gifts “pay to play” and “unethical.” How much more unethical is Pennsylvania’s policy allowing state representatives and senators to accept gifts of any value?
Large “gifts” to lawmakers block legislation that could modernize our economic, environmental and educational programs. Legislative leaders could release bills from the state government committees that would address the gift problem. Senate Bills 97 and 1081 as well as House Bills 556 and 744 have all been in committee since at least October. Over the past 25 years, 38 gift ban bills have perished in the Legislature.
We need legislative leadership to work for us, not just wealthy gift givers.
JoAnn Kennedy Flanagan
Point Breeze