By Mitchel Olszak
If there is one central theme arising from Harrisburg’s Bonusgate scandal, it’s this:
The level of arrogance and hubris among Pennsylvania’s legislative elite is nothing less than outrageous. These guys have been incapable of understanding the difference between the public good and their own personal political gain.
What benefited them, they presumed, serves the citizens.
So what was wrong with using tax dollars to advance their re-election efforts — and perhaps make their lives in the harsh confines of the state Capitol a bit more comfortable? After all, they are powerful people with crucial responsibilities (such as midnight pay raises and passing state budgets by the annual deadline).
The criminal charges that have been levied against 25 individuals so far — with the likelihood more will follow — basically boil down to this notion of inflated self-importance. It’s a consequence of the ability to direct millions of dollars with virtually no oversight. For years, the Legislature has sat on huge slush funds that lawmakers completely controlled and used in ways that were answerable to no one.
It’s part of Pennsylvania’s political tradition. The commonwealth’s government always has been very paternalistic and authoritarian when it comes to information. It was only this year that a new law took effect which describes citizen access to most public records.
Traditionally, the attitude Harrisburg has displayed toward the people of Pennsylvania has been quite simple: Shut up and pay your taxes.
Along with the criminal charges and grand jury presentments offered by the Pennsylvania attorney general in the Bonusgate probe are some new revelations that came to light last week, courtesy of The Associated Press.
The AP received transcripts of grand jury testimony that make various allegations against state Rep. Todd Eachus, who is the current House majority leader. Individuals testifying before the grand jury claimed that Eachus was involved in efforts that used government employees and facilities to perform campaign work — a key aspect of the overall Bonusgate probe.
Also, one witness reportedly described how Eachus stressed the importance of using government money for the public service announcements that featured lawmakers. This freed up campaign money for other activities.
In a similar vein you’ve undoubtedly received various mailings from your elected representatives, describing what bang-up jobs they are doing in Harrisburg and in their districts.
Who do you think pays for this propaganda?
Slowly but surely, momentum appears to be growing for a dramatic change in Pennsylvania politics. Increasingly, critics are concluding that a new constitutional convention is needed to restructure the commonwealth’s government and craft a way to end these legislative abuses and political secrecy.
Ironically, Pennsylvania’s current constitution, which was created in 1968, establishes no mechanism for the people to demand such a change. It requires an act of the Legislature itself to call a convention.
But citizens still have the power to make this happen — by telling their representatives either to act or be replaced. The nonsense and criminality in Harrisburg must stop.
