Gift Ban

Good-government advocates argue that the legislature, swayed by donors and leadership, lacks the political will to rid itself of the perks of being in elected office.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: The head of the State Ethics Commission discusses why now might be the time for elected leaders to put limits on gifts to public officials, despite years of failed efforts; researchers found evidence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in white-tailed deer; and Pennsylvania residents who received additional unemployment compensation benefits, at no fault of their own, are getting sent confusing, and what some call “threatening,” letters from the state.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: A bill in the state legislature could limit elected officials and state employees from accepting certain gifts, a stark contrast to the state’s current lax regulations, but state Sen. Jake Corman has yet to weigh in on the bill, despite his GOP counterparts supporting the legislation; Pittsburgh Mercy has opened their winter shelters to accommodate homeless people in dangerously cold weather with COVID-19 mitigation measures in place; and a look at how mental health experts are treating anxiety around climate change.

Senate President Jake Corman, who has reported accepting thousands of dollars in hospitality and transportation gifts, has yet to join fellow GOP leaders in support of the reform.

Urging lawmakers to “stop taking bribes,” demonstrators returned to Pennsylvania’s Capitol to press lawmakers to pass legislation banning them from taking gifts from lobbyists and others aiming to influence them.

Pennsylvania's governor wants to ban gifts to all elected state officials and to suspend pay for himself, lawmakers and their top aides when they have not…