 |
By Meara Geraty Digital Content Coordinator, RepresentUs |
May 14, 2019
After a 110 mile march and 20-person arrest, anti-corruption reformers with March on Harrisburg successfully pressured the Speaker of the House to support a lobbyist gift ban bill in Pennsylvania. Here’s what happened, and why Pennsylvania desperately needs this anti-corruption reform.
“$$ Silences Us”
Reformers from Pennsylvania and around the country joined together for the third March on Harrisburg, marching 110 miles from Philadelphia to Harrisburg to raise awareness and pressure the Pennsylvania legislature to address corruption.
The march culminated in two non-violent protests that temporarily shut down the Pennsylvania State Capitol and resulted in 20 arrests. They were there to demand action on HB 1291: Gift Ban for Public Officials.
Twelve activists, including March on Harrisburg Executive Director Rabbi Michael Pollack, were arrested for blocking the East Wing entrance in the Capitol. Protesters taped dollar bills marked “Bribe” over their mouths, and others dropped a banner reading “$$ Silences Us” from above the sit-in.
Eight other activists were arrested for shutting down the Pennsylvania House Session as soon as it began. The anti-corruption advocates flooded the House with 500 one-dollar bills, dropped a banner that read “Some are guilty; all are responsible. Pass the Gift Ban Now!”, and chanted “Pass the Gift Ban," and "Money Out, People In.”
Last year's march similarly culminated with arrests and creative actions, including a national drive to send plungers to the capitol to "unclog" the legislature. The plungers littered the steps of the capitol, and the message was clear: pass the lobbyist gift ban, unclog the shameful blockage holding up the legislature.
How much does it cost to buy a politician in Pennsylvania?
Currently, Pennsylvania is one of just a handful of states with no lobbyist gift limits.
Most other states have common sense laws that cap the amount special interests are able to give as gifts to politicians. It’s no surprise that Pennsylvania received a failing grade from the Center for Public Integrity’s State Integrity investigation.
And Pennsylvania legislators aren’t shy about flaunting it. Lobbyists enjoy reserved parking at the Capitol building… and they give hundreds of thousands of dollars in concert tickets, expensive jewelry, vacations to the Keys, house repairs, or, everyone’s favorite: cold hard cash.
What, you mean you don’t have a cool $100,000 lying around to bribe your elected representatives to actually represent you?
The bipartisan bill that could bring power back to the people
"Our legislators cannot serve both money and people. As long as money is speech and bribery is legal, the voice of the people will not be heard."
— Rabbi Michael Pollack, Executive Director, March on Harrisburg
The remedy is obvious: a lobbyist gift ban.
H.B. 1291 is a bipartisan bill that would change this by finally making it illegal in Pennsylvania for lobbyists to influence legislators with exorbitant gifts. And thanks to March on Harrisburg’s efforts, it just received an important endorsement.
After protesters were arrested last week, Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R) met with the activists and came out in support of the gift ban. He signed on as a co-sponsor, marking an important step towards passage. Along with the support from the Speaker, the march generated national news coverage in outlets like Common Dreams and The New York Times, even inspiring this sharp political cartoon:
Even though they’ve received the support of Speaker Turzai, the work is far from over. In the words of Communications Director Emmie DiCicco, "We want more than supportive statements; we want action."
Pressuring action in Pennsylvania
The only way to pass the gift ban is to keep up the pressure. If you’re in Pennsylvania, call your representative and House Minority leader Frank Dermody. Tell them to put a stop to legalized bribery by supporting the gift ban legislation.
If you’re anywhere else in the country, you can join our volunteer network to hear about urgent actions to pressure the legislature to pass the gift ban.
Together, we’re putting power back in the hands of everyday Americans, and working across the political spectrum to unrig our broken system. March on Harrisburg shows that change is possible if brave people stand up and demand to have their voices heard.