Bipartisan Effort to Clean up Harrisburg Targets Special Interest Influence

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — That cozy, long-term relationship between politicians and special interest groups may be coming to an end in Pennsylvania.

Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Blair, and Sen. Mike Stack, D-Philadelphia, on Monday unveiled their proposals that address gift reporting, alter lobbying laws and expand campaign disclosures for certain groups, among other ethics-minded reforms.

The bills would clean up the laws to stop even the appearance of impropriety, which can be damaging, Stack said.

“It’s disrupting, and it erodes the public faith in what we’re trying to do here,” Stack said.

One of Eichelberger’s proposal would prohibit registered lobbyists and lobby firms from working for candidates on political campaigns.

“Campaign consultants are your lifeline, you depend on them,” he said. “And when they come in and say, ‘Hey we need you to vote for this or vote against that,’ that is undue influence on that elected official.”

Lobbyists, special interests and other third parties can exert influence over politicians in other ways, from travel, tickets to sports games or other perks. State law says lawmakers have to report any gifts valued at $250 or higher, but Eichelberger proposes lowering the threshold to $5o.

“The public deserves a little more information about how people spend their time and how much money is being spent on that individual as they do their business here in the Legislature,” Eichelberger said.

Additionally, Stack is offering a bill that would prohibit the governor’s office and executive agency employees from accepting gifts and favors from companies engaged in business with the state.

Another proposal, also sponsored by Stack, would suspend salaries for the General Assembly, governor, lieutenant governor and cabinet members if they failed to pass a state budget by June 30. Calling the budget a constitutional duty and top priority, Stack said passing a budget can get held up as a result of “strategizing, macho games and posturing dressed up as legitimate negotiations.”

Similar reform measures have come before. Stack previously sponsored a similar salary revocation bill that did not pass.

Both Eichelberger and Stack said they think a bipartisanship effort may propel momentum this time around.

“That puts pressure on other members of the Legislature, both Democrats and Republicans, to move this,” Stack said.

At least one of their Senate colleagues is against the salary revocation proposal. Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, said it could give an advantage to wealthy legislators who may not have to worry about their public salary.

“If you want me to vote against it, but I can’t pay my mortgage if I vote against it, that does not put me in a position of protecting my constituents,” Leach said. “That’s why we ban bribery. We don’t give legislators direct financial stakes in voting yes or no.”

Pennsylvania Common Cause Executive Director Barry Kauffman said the bill package includes some reforms his accountability-advocacy group pushed for in the 1990s, including salary revocation.

He said he also supports the lobbying law changes, saying Pennsylvania tends to make incremental reforms and lags behind other states in this area.

But Kauffman said he would prefer to see gifts to lawmakers banned altogether, instead of increasing reporting requirements. Gifts influence votes and allow lobbyists and major campaign donors to get heard before the Pennsylvania’s residents, he said.

“They (gifts) are absolutely an investment in access to power and an investment in creating a friend that you can cash in on at later day,” Kauffman said. “There’s clearly no reason for them.”

Kauffman said the proposals prove the quest for good government ethics is not only bipartisan but “cross-cultural.” Eichelberger and Stack are often on the opposite sides of some issues.

“Government integrity should not be the domain of any one political party or any one political philosophy,” Kauffman said.

Contact Melissa Daniels at melissa@paindependent.com