John Baer: Harrisburg: 'F' for failure in a system of shame

IT'S NO SURPRISE that our Legislature gets an "F" from the Center for Public Integrity in a national report on lawmakers disclosing information about assets, holdings or connections to special interests.

In fact, I can't think of areas in which our Legislature deserves a grade better than "F." Accountability, performance, professionalism, efficiency, cost-saving? I see a report card full of "F's," especially as the stench of incompetence and stagnation spreads from the Capitol during the seventh straight missed annual-budget deadline.

But what's interesting is that our ranking dropped two slots to 35th among states - no other Mid-Atlantic state ranks as low - since the center's last survey in 2006, which, I'd remind you, was Pennsylvania's "year of reform."

The center is a Washington-based nonpartisan, nonadvocacy group. The report was released June 24. The criteria are based on what all states require, according to center spokesman Steve Carpinelli.

And what do other states require that our Legislature does not?

It's a long list with complexities, but here's the gist:

_ State lawmakers here are not required to describe any outside employment nor the range nor value of income from it.

The state ethics law they wrote requires only an annual one-page filing that includes names and addresses of any "source" of income of $1,300 or more. Clearly there are income sources whose names tell you nothing about what they do.

Philly Republican Rep. John Perzel, for example, lists the GEO Group, of Boca Raton, Fla., as a direct source of income. He isn't required to say what he gets or what GEO does (it runs private prisons).

_ Our lawmakers are not required to disclose a spouse's employment or even a spouse's name. Other states, 28 of them, see such a requirement as a good way to avoid conflicts of interest or appearances of conflict.

_ Our lawmakers are not required to describe entities for which they serve as officers, board members or directors - same for spouses. The only requirement is listing "any office you hold" in a business entity.

Philly Democratic Rep. Jewell Williams lists ownership and 100 percent interest in the Jewell Williams Co., same address as his residence. He's not required to say what the business does.

_ Our lawmakers don't have to identify clients whom they or a spouse might represent (in business or law, for example), nor list the value or range of compensation from clients. A legislator/lawyer just names the firm from which he or she is paid, but not clients he or she represents. Half the states require such disclosure.

_ Our lawmakers are not required to provide information on real property they or a spouse own, nor its value, unless such property "was involved in transactions" with the state or other governmental bodies.

_ They are not required to report financial interest in any business unless they own more than 5 percent of its equity or assets, nor describe any for-profit business in which they hold interest above that threshold.

Philly Democratic Sen. Mike Stack, for example, lists a 25 percent interest in something called Finne Terre, Domestic General Partnership, Southampton Road, Philadelphia, and is required to list nothing further.

In short, our legislators, even after their "year of reform," give an appearance of disclosure but protect themselves from constituents in ways that most legislatures do not.

I know that this pales compared to current sins of greed and ineptitude connected with the budget debacle and the fact that most lawmakers can collect per diems up to $158 a day and pay their staffs while state workers face payless paydays.

(The only vote in the House last Thursday was a roll call - allowing members to claim per diems.)

But this lack of disclosure is important to note as representative of a culture of culpability in a system of shame maintained for decades.

Real change is needed in Harrisburg, whose denizens deserve no respect (or re-election) until they provide it.

Send e-mail to baerj@phillynews.com.

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