Yesterday marked the start of the longest anti-corruption demonstration in months: a five-day protest that started with a 36-mile, three-day-long march from Lancaster Pennsylvania to the capitol in Harrisburg, and ends with two days of rallies and demonstrations outside the capitol building.
And this isn't a walk in paradise: it's freaking cold in Pennsylvania right now. When people are willing to brave 30-degree weather, you know they're pissed about something. So, what's pissing people off enough to get them outside protesting for five days?
Pennsylvania’s lobbyist gift problem is shockingly bad
Politicians here are swimming in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbyist gifts.
Right now it's legal for anyone to give Pennsylvania politicians expensive vacations, lavish dinners, and even cash. That’s right, anyone can give politicians fancy perks.
But who’s doing it? You guessed it: lobbyists. According to campaign finance reports, wealthy business interests have given politicians everything from tickets to a Beyoncé concert, a trip to Key West, and boxing lessons.
The average voter doesn’t have the cash to spend giving gifts like this to their elected officials. That leaves wealthy donors, corporations, and lobbyists who are using their checkbooks to try to influence political decisions.
There’s a solution, but one politician is blocking it
The good news is that this rampant problem could be wiped away with one simple vote: a lobbyist gift ban bill is drafted and ready for a vote.
It’s a bill similar to the kind passed in a handful of other states, and it’s widely supported by the public regardless of political affiliation. But politicians aren’t so eager to let go of their perks.
The committee chair who would bring the bill to a vote, Representative Daryl Metcalfe, is refusing to do it.
The people aren’t done fighting – and they’re willing to get creative
People in Pennsylvania aren’t just hanging their heads and complaining about Daryl Metcalfe. They’re putting on their warm layers and protesting to get his attention and pressure him into calling a vote.
They’ve set off on a three-day march to raise awareness across the state. The march ends at the state capitol, where marchers will protest in front of the capitol building for two days.
And Pennsylvanians aren’t alone in this fight: thousands of people across the country have joined in on the pressure campaign, signing on to a national petition calling on Daryl Metcalfe to bring the bill to a vote.
As with any good attention-worthy protest, marchers are using creative tactics to get the attention of Metcalfe and the media. They’ve launched a fundraising campaign to bring plungers to the capitol, symbolizing the… blockage… that Metcalfe is exerting on the gift ban bill.
Here’s how you can follow the story
Represent.Us organizers and volunteers will be marching and rallying, and we’ll provide live reporting on social media.
On Facebook, you can follow the campaign by liking Represent.Us, or by following us on Twitter @RepresentdotUs, or search for the hashtag #EndPACorruption.