Pa.’s long, ugly history of greed

To the Times:

The conviction of state Rep. Vanessa Lowry Brown is the latest chapter in Pennsylvania’s long history of political graft. The non-partisan Center for Public Integrity ranks our state 45th in overall integrity. Absent Governor Wolf’s prohibition on gift in the executive branch, we’d rank even lower.

The reason is simple: Our laws encourage corrupt behavior, and make it difficult to keep tabs on.

Ms. Brown’s crime was not that she accepted cash. Pennsylvania in fact does not prohibit gifts to most public officials – even cash and jewelry. Her crime was accepting the gift in exchange for political favors. And when you look at the gifts reported to colleagues, it’s difficult to believe she’s alone. She was only caught because the bribe came from an undercover agent.

This problem extends beyond Harrisburg and accepting gifts from others; sometimes politicians themselves are the ones giving, but you’re paying. Local governments, often out of sight, are convenient breeding grounds for corruption. Look no further than Delaware County, where GOP donors and their political elite are rewarded with contracts and even no-show jobs – all on the public’s dime. Nobody likes it (except the corrupt of course). But it rarely seems to factor into how people vote, despite crippling governments’ ability to effectively represent us.

I am opposed to a “single issue voting” mentality, but this situation is indefensible and inexcusable. None of us should vote for anyone, state or local, who fails to support wholesale ethics reform in word and in deed.