The allegations that four Pennsylvania lawmakers were caught on video accepting money from a confidential informant during a criminal investigation reaffirm the need for a ban on all cash and gifts to elected officials and staff in state government.
According to news reports, the Pennsylvania lawmakers accepted the money as part of a sting operation that never produced charges. Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who inherited the investigation when she took office early last year, said she ended the investigation because she considered it flawed. She said the informant, Tyron B. Ali, worked largely unsupervised in an investigation improperly targeting Black lawmakers.
However, District Attorney Seth Williams, who supervises the former state prosecutor and agent who worked the case, said the case was solid. Williams, who is African-American, also denied racial targeting occurred.
The four Philadelphia House Democrats who reportedly took money from Ali were: Rep. Ronald G. Waters for a total of $7,650; Rep. Vanessa Brown, $4,000; Rep. Michelle Brownlee, $3,500; and Rep Louise Bishop, $1,500.
There is no question the investigation was flawed and bordered on entrapment.
It is also important to remember that none of the four lawmakers have been charged with any crime.
Still the allegations against the four lawmakers are deeply disturbing and needs to be addressed with further investigation and legislative action.
The alleged conduct is totally unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. This sort of behavior by elected officials erodes public trust and increases cynicism and apathy.
Current legislation is not tough enough on lawmakers accepting cash.
In Pennsylvania, it is legal for officials to accept cash and gifts as long as they disclose them annually. Officials must disclose gifts that are not from family or close friends and are worth $250 or total $650 in a given year.
The law does not go far enough.
This week state Sen. Anthony Williams of Philadelphia said he will introduce legislation to ban cash gifts to public officials from lobbyists or others seeking to influence them. Williams joins three other senate colleagues—Lisa Baker of Luzerne County, Lloyd Smucker of Lancaster and Daylin Leach of Montgomery County—in pushing for such a ban. The legislation needs to be supported and urgently approved.
An outright ban of gifts to Pennsylvania lawmakers from lobbyists and others seeking to influence them is long overdue.
(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune.)
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