HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Despite a spate of corruption charges involving paying to play in Pennsylvania government, there’s no clamor in the Legislature to ban or limit campaign contributions from the business people seeking state contracts.
Craig Holman of Public Citizen in Washington, D.C., says government contracts are a leading source of corruption at the state and local level.
The most recent scandal involves the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and has led to six arrests, including charges against three former turnpike commission officials.
Holman says Pennsylvania’s taxpayers and politicians could benefit from a strong pay-to-play law to ensure contracts are awarded on merit and office holders know there is a bright line they shouldn’t cross.
He says New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois have the most effective laws on the books after scandals there motivated lawmakers.
