Commission would root out and prevent public corruption
 
PHILADELPHIA – In the wake of a series of scandals involving elected officials throughout the Commonwealth, a bipartisan group of state legislators is spearheading legislative efforts to create a Public Integrity Commission (PIC).
 
Reps. Curt Schroder (R-Chester County), Eugene DePasquale (D-York County), Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery County) and John Yudichak (D-Luzerne County) said their legislation creates an independent government agency responsible for monitoring and investigating the actions of public officials throughout the Commonwealth to determine whether they are engaging in unlawful activity in connection with the public office they hold or for which they work.
 
The legislators unveiled their proposal in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
 
“Our freedoms and liberties, guaranteed and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, are under attack and the threat is from within,” Schroder said. “The corruption that has taken root in our system of government here in Pennsylvania is a direct threat to the social contract that establishes our government subject to the consent of the governed.”
“This effort is aimed at ensuring we not repeat the past mistakes,” DePasquale said. “We have a lot of work needed to get Pennsylvania back on track. This effort will help restore confidence in our state government and by extension, improve our chances to make positive changes to our state moving forward.”
Their proposal calls for a seven-member commission with professional investigatory staff to respond to complaints and seek out corruption wherever it exists. The commission would have the power to subpoena records and witnesses relevant to an investigation along with the authority to grant immunity and compel testimony. The commission would also serve an educational role by issuing yearly reports on public corruption.
 
To best insulate the PIC members from the political process, commissioners would have to be nominated by a committee consisting of law school deans, district attorneys and good government advocacy groups. The governor would select seven members from the 15 nominated by the committee. Those nominated by the governor would be subject to confirmation by two-thirds of the state Senate. No more than three commission members could be from the same political party.
 
The PIC would replace the current state Ethics Commission and expand its role and purview by employing trained, certified law enforcement personnel with the authority to enforce laws related to public corruption. All of the existing functions and duties of the Ethics Commission — including personnel, appropriations, equipment, files and records — would be transferred to the new PIC.
 
Over the past few decades, newspaper headlines have described numerous government scandals involving ghost employees, job-selling, cover-ups and kickbacks for lucrative state contracts. “Bonusgate,” the Luzerne County “Kids for Cash” scandal, allegations of pay-to-play schemes within the executive branch and the licensing of casino owners with criminal backgrounds are the latest examples of government bodies that have demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to appropriately police themselves.
 
“Obviously, the current safeguards we have in place don’t go far enough,” said Vereb, a former police officer. “The current system has turned a blind eye to government corruption for years. I came to Harrisburg because I believe state government needs to change. This legislation is a step in the right direction. A Public Integrity Commission with law enforcement powers will be able to root out corruption and make government more transparent for all citizens of Pennsylvania.”
 
“The people of Pennsylvania want accountability, honesty and integrity in their government – they deserve nothing less,” said Yudichak. “When corrupt public officials give the people good cause to lose confidence in government those officials must be held accountable for their actions and confidence must be restored in the rule of law. The Public Integrity Commission is a comprehensive approach to re-establishing the public’s confidence in government by empowering an independent agency to root out corruption at all levels of public life.”
This legislation will strengthen Pennsylvania’s ability to fight government corruption and restore the public’s trust in its elected leaders.

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