Reform and Transparency
Many state representatives elected in 2006 campaigned on a reform platform but, unfortunately, little reform has been enacted into law. There are 2 aspects of legislative reform that I will concentrate on:
- The first and most important legislative reform is to increase state government transparency because this will improve all aspects of state government including reducing the frequency of Bonusgate type scandals and eliminating backroom negotiations and deals such as those that yielded this year's state budget. Transparency acts as a disinfectant for Bonusgate type scandals and as an antiseptic to prevent future illegal activity.
- The second legislative reform focus will be to dramatically reduce (i.e. 40% - 50%) the cost of state govennment. Given that Pennsylvania is lagging 80% of its sister states in productivity and growth, its time the State House led by example and dramatically reduced the cost of state government in Pennsylvania.