text size: A | A | A
Reformers Meet to Raise Public Integrity Awareness
   posted 7:22 pm Mon July 07, 2008 - Harrisburg, Pa.
   reporter: Dennis Owens      posted by: Bryan Peach
abc27 News - Reformers Meet to Raise Public Integrity Awareness
  abc27 News - Share Reformers Meet to Raise Public Integrity Awareness  abc27 News - Print Reformers Meet to Raise Public Integrity Awareness  abc27 News - Email Reformers Meet to Raise Public Integrity Awareness  abc27 News - RSS Feeds  abc27 News - Send Reformers Meet to Raise Public Integrity Awareness via Instant Messager
abc27 News - Share This Article
Stay on top of breaking news! Sign up for abc27 News e-mail alerts.
Your Email:  

Three years ago today, lawmakers gave themselves that infamous pay raise that ignited a firestorm of controversy. A coalition of reformers decided to meet today to raise awareness that promises made have not been promises paid.

"In the 2007-2008 session, there's been one law enacted to improve public integrity - one," said Tim Potts of Democracy Rising PA.

Critics say that single law is a watered-down open records law. Bills on redistricting, legislature size, term limits, election and campaign finance reform still languish in committee.

"We're doing our best to hold their feet to the fire, but citizens have to go out there and really go after the legislature, because the legislature is doing nothing basically," said political activist Gene Stilp.

Senator Pat Vance admitted that more reform is needed, and pointed out that reform bills have passed the Senate only to stall in the House.

"I have been surprised by some of the new members who were elected on reform (who) have been willing to go along to get along," said Vance. "That has surprised me more than anything."

Perhaps most surprising is that there is still no law banning bonuses, even as the attorney general is reportedly about to hand down indictments for illegal bonuses.

Reformers hope that the indictments will reinvigorate the reform movement.

"When people see what has gone on here the past couple years, and what went on with 'Bonusgate,' that will blow the lid off this building and force these legislators to ask, and they'll be scrambling to make these reforms," said Stilp.

 


Follow abc27 News on Twitter

Got Stuff... Sell It abc27 Classifieds
You need to be a registered member of
abc27 News to leave comments on news stories.
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Username or Email Address
Password
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.


TM & © TM & © Harrisburg Television, Inc.
Please read our Privacy Policy. By using this site, you accept our Terms of Service.
Children's Television | EEO Reports | DTV Consumer Education Reports
WHTM-TV adheres to the ICRA RATING SYSTEM

Pages throughout the WHTM website feature links to other sites, some of which are operated by companies unrelated to WHTM-TV.
WHTM-TV has no control over the content or availability of any linked site.

Legal Notices. "TM & © Harrisburg Television, Inc.", recognizes the privacy interests of visitors to this site on the Internet.

Satellite Home Viewer Act Information | WHTM EEO Reports CLICK HERE
{ts '2008-07-07 22:19:50'}