Leader calls for reform

Between “Bonusgate”, the corruption trial of former state Senator Vincent Fumo, and the “did-he or didn’t-he” know drama surrounding state Representative Bill DeWeese, the state Capitol has seen its share of scandal lately.

In the wake of these events, members of the House Republican caucus are calling for a plethora of new measures designed to “restore faith and confidence” in state government.

House Minority Leader Sam Smith (R-Armstrong) revealed a 12-point plan called “Pennsylvania’s Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg” or PATH.

The plan would:

• Forbid state legislative staffers from campaigning during scheduled work-day hours;
• Bar public officials from starting non-profits;
• Mandate reporting of all campaign contributions, ethics statements and lobby disclosures within two weeks;
• Enforce procedures for pre- and post-grant audits;
• Create a database showing all state spending;
• Hire independent auditors for the legislature, with their reporting made public;
• Strengthen whistleblower protections;
• End the state’s pay-to-play mentality;
• End lobbying relationships;
• Create an ethical code of conduct for the executive branch;
• Strengthen the state’s Sunshine Law;
• Subject contractors to Ethics Act and Legislative Code of Ethics.

PATH is a direct response to actions taken by Fumo, who was found guilty of more than 140 charges tied to public corruption, and to Veon who has been charged with illegal use of state workers and state government resources for political and personal purposes.