John Baer: Corruption? It's practically a state hallmark

THE CENTER FOR Public Integrity is starting an ambitious national project - believed to be the first of its kind - to identify risks of public corruption in each state based on laws on the books and how they're enforced.

Pennsylvania will show itself to be at very high risk indeed.

Right now we've got two former legislative leaders (Democrats Mike Veon and Vince Fumo) in prison; one former legislative leader (Republican Jane Orie) on trial; and two former legislative leaders (Republican John Perzel and Democrat Bill DeWeese) awaiting trial.

That doesn't count Mark Ciavarella, the cash-for-kids judge in Luzerne County, convicted Friday of a dozen counts of racketeering and conspiracy.

And it doesn't count ongoing investigations into political fundraising in Philly, misuse of public office in Harrisburg, the issuance of gambling licenses across the state, the probe of another former legislative leader (Democrat Bob Mellow) and more.

In Pennsylvania, where the official state tree is the hemlock and the official state bird is the ruffed grouse, politics is poisonous and grousing is justified.

In fact, in Pennsylvania, corruption is the official state condition.

The new study, aimed at identifying states' risks or, in our case, confirming the obvious, is also geared to fire up citizens.

"The idea here is to be a warning device and to get people aware of where their state is weak and prone to corruption," says center spokesman Randy Barrett.

The Washington-based center has $1.5 million in grants from the Princeton-based Rita Allen Foundation and the California-based Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm, to conduct the 18-month project.

Caitlin Ginley, who's honchoing the effort, tells me she's hiring investigative reporters in each state and reaching out to good-government groups for input.

A key, she says, is examining how well preventive laws are used; areas of concentration are "anything having to deal with money."

That means campaign finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest and levels of required public disclosure. And that means that Pennsylvania's risks will soar.

We are one of only 11 states with no limits on what individuals, political parties or political-action committees can give candidates. Lobbyists, in addition to funding campaigns, meals and golf outings, treat our lawmakers to Super Bowl trips. We've had lawmakers run their own nonprofits with tax dollars. And the Daily News reported Saturday that the state no longer posts timely data online about campaign contributions, so we can't even easily see who's paying what to buy influence with whom.

All this keeps us among states that cultivate corruption like a money crop - a place we've been for years.

In 2008, the New York Times tallied convicted public officials in each state from 1998 through 2007: Pennsylvania ranked fourth, with 555 - behind Florida, New York and Texas.

In 2009, the Center for Public Integrity updated its 1999 survey of states' disclosure and public-accessibility laws: Pennsylvania got an "F."

And last year, the Daily Beast ranked states based solely on federal convictions between 1998 and 2008. Pennsylvania, proving it can be in the top 10 of anything bad, ranked eighth.

I'm not sure how many national studies or sets of statistics it takes to engender serious reform, as opposed to the tepid, watery stuff being offered by the new governor and the lax Legislature.

I'm not sure those in power much care how average folks view them.

But I am sure the gap between "entitled" officials and embattled citizens is growing as those in office flaunt power, protect perks and nurture the seeds of corruption.

And I'm sure that gap isn't good for representative democracy or governing.

And if another national study highlights the problem, then I'm all for it.