Posted on 09/28/2006 1:13:42 PM PDT by truthfinder9
Today, Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann highlighted the urgent need to end pay raise politics in Pennsylvania during his statewide tour to Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Scranton, Erie, Johnstown, and Pittsburgh.
“The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Ed Rendell’s midnight pay raise is just another example of what is wrong with Harrisburg,” said Swann.
“The politics of pay raises and backroom deals are getting in the way of delivering results for hard working Pennsylvanians. This Governor squandered his bully pulpit by doing more to raise the pay of Harrisburg insiders than providing tax relief for the rest of us,” Swann continued. “I stand for reform, and my opponent does not - because after a quarter century in politics, he can’t.”
After actively lobbying caucus leaders to introduce and pass his pay raise bill, Governor Rendell quickly signed the legislation into law in July 2005, and proceeded to publicly outline the “positive and long-ranging benefits” of the pay raise in a letter last year.
Only after Pennsylvanians revolted against Rendell’s pay raise did the Governor backtrack and claim that he orchestrated this bill to “kiss a little butt” with the Legislature, and declare that “he was not made king” of the Commonwealth.
“As Governor I have outlined a plan for reforming state government that will put state government back where it belongs—in the hands of the people of Pennsylvania,” said Swann. “My plan will increase transparency by imposing a 72-hour waiting period to allow for public comment before I sign or veto any legislation.”
Swann’s plan for government reform also includes:
Shrinking the size of the General Assembly to save money and eliminate barriers to wide-ranging reforms;
Passing a state spending cap and tying resources to results for all state programs;
Requiring real lobbyist disclosure and extending the lobbying ban to all departing officials and cabinet secretaries;
Increasing disclosure for gifts and hospitality given to all elected officials and their staffs;
Avoiding conflicts of interest by disclosing outside income of immediate family before signing or vetoing any bill; and
Allowing the auditor general to audit all legislative accounts to ensure a higher standard of accountability to the public.
Do you think Swann has a chance?
Nope.
jas3
Yes, yes, yes, Lynn Swann's campaign staff is guilty as charged of political malpractice. But at least the ideas the GOP gubernatorial candidate has managed to share with the public are designed to reduce government's bite on your purse.
If Mr. Rendell is re-elected, expect more of the same, only worse. That is, instead of a snorkel, the Democrat will need a deep-sea diving suit for the raid on the public swag.
We certainly don't agree with everything Sen. Rick Santorum has done. But the Republican has done plenty right, especially his support of economy-boosting tax rate cuts and his unwavering dedication to cracking down on illegal aliens and the rule of immigration law.
Mr. Casey? This Democrat likes to play word games but he's a big fan of amnesty for illegals. And if he could, he'd join Rendell in the same diving suit, reaching so far into the public's pockets that he'd pull its pants clean off.
Yet Messrs. Casey and Rendell have double-digit leads in some polls. This isn't public preference, this is public ignorance. And ignorance, we remind, is a voluntary misfortune.
"This isn't public preference, this is public ignorance. And ignorance, we remind, is a voluntary misfortune."
Excellent point. I just hate having to suffer the same fate and thse who refuse to educate themselves.
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