Wolf to impose 'No, thank you' Rule on Appointees

[Divernan]

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Wolf plans to sign an executive order to prohibit gifts even though state law allows officials to accept gifts worth up to $250 without reporting them, or gifts worth more than that amount if disclosed. The law sets a $650 threshold for travel, hospitality and lodging.

Critics during Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's campaign pointed to his acceptance of legally allowed gifts, totaling more than $28,000 during his tenure, from tickets to sporting events and Broadway shows to a free yacht vacation.

In his Campaign for a Fresh Start, Pennsylvania governor-elect, Democrat Tom Wolf spelled out his rule on gifts — for himself, his Governor's Office staff, and his appointees to state agencies and boards: “The rule will be easy to apply and easy to report — no free lunches, no free tickets to ball games, and no free trips to conferences or vacation resorts. If you come and work for Tom Wolf in Harrisburg, there will be no ‘gifts' as part of your job.”

Barry Kauffman, lobbyist for Common Cause of Pennsylvania, said the rule is “strong incentive to do the right thing. It means you'll be beholden to no one.”

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Good for Governor-elect Wolf - off to a fine start. Sadly, it will be a cold day in hell before the state legislators of either party agree to apply such a rule to themselves. I worked for the Democratic Caucus of the PA House for 10 years. On session days, legislators from both parties routinely attended hot breakfast buffets in the Capitol rotunda, sponsored by lobbyists/special interest groups. They were also taken out to restaurants by lobbyists most evenings they were in the state capitol. And OH! all the college/professional sports outings where they were wined and dined in private, luxury boxes. Then there were the golf outings. Most outrageously, the overwhelming majority of these state legislators collected their undocumented per diems for food, even though they rarely paid for even a can of soda.

[Doctor_J]

1. Holy shit. Operating a government without graft is like operating a car without oil

Best of luck, governor. I really hope this catches on.

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. To be fair, Governor Corbett gave a gift of the Black Moshannon State Park

to the Chesapeake Energy Company, so it was more like a potlatch.

[Divernan]

3. Also requires disclosure of conflicts of interest; pledge not to use position for personal gain.

The ban would not apply to the Legislature. That's why Common Cause wants an across-the-board law.

The late Gov. Robert P. Casey, a Democrat, imposed a similar gift ban and, said Kauffman, “He enforced it, too.”

Katie McGinty, Wolf's chief of staff, on Monday became the first to sign the code of conduct. Broader than just gifts, it requires disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and includes a pledge not to use a government position for personal gain. The statement says the signatory will be “impartial and beholden to the people.”

Incoming members of Wolf's administration will sign the ethics form, Sheridan said. The executive order banning gifts will solidify that provision for people he brings in and executive branch employees.

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[Cha]

4. I'm so glad PA has Tom Wolf as their Gov elect! Mahalo Divernan

[madokie]

5. Awesome sir

We need a whole lot more politicians with your mindset.
Here's to your continued success

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Getting off to a good start!

It is outrageous the amount of "gifts" that lawmakers and other politicians take, while they assure us that it does not conflict with their voting. And nobody believes them. Way to go, Gov. Wolf!!!