Commonwealth Foundation breaks the law with political hit piece

Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released an “analysis” of gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf’s state budget proposals that clearly crosses into what the IRS considers to be electioneering. The "analysis" is no more than a political hit paid for by taxpayer funds timed for the day of the last gubernatorial debate.

The Commonwealth Foundation is 501c3 charity under IRS rules and it is prohibited from electioneering. Below is an explanation from the Congressional Research Service about how the IRS assesses whether or not an advocacy communication such as this “analysis” intervenes in political campaigns. Let’s count the ways – we get all 7.

Find this on page 5 of the CRS report:

Section 501(c)(3) organizations may take positions on policy issues. Because there is no rule that campaign activity occurs only when an organization expressly advocates for or against candidate, the line between issue advocacy and campaign activity can be difficult to discern.

According to the IRS, key factors that indicate an issue advocacy communication does not cross the line into campaign intervention include the following:

• the communication does not identify any candidates for a given public office, whether by name or other means, such as party affiliation or distinctive features of a candidate’s platform;

• the communication does not express approval or disapproval for any candidate’s positions and/or actions;

• the communication is not delivered close in time to an election;

• the communication does not refer to voting or an election;

• the issue addressed in the communication has not been raised as an issue distinguishing the candidates;

• the communication is part of an ongoing series by the organization on the same issue and the series is not timed to an election; and

• the identification of the candidate and the communication’s timing are related to a non-electoral event (e.g., a scheduled vote on legislation by an officeholder who is also a candidate).

John Hanger's statement on Senate passage of medical marijuana bil

John Hanger today said that Senate passage of the bill making medical marijuana available to those suffering from illness treatable with marijuana is a landmark in Pennsylvania history for compassion and common sense. Hanger had been a strong, effective champion of legalizing marijuana when he was a candidate for governor during the primary.

“I want to thank the members of the Pennsylvania Senate for their votes to make medical marijuana available to those who need it,” said Hanger. “And I especially want to thank the tireless advocates, whose stories and struggles finally have been heard and validated by this historic vote.”

“Now the bill moves to the House of Representatives which has plenty of time to pass this bill,” continued Hanger. “Voters should contact their representative and let them know that the vote on this bill will determine whether or not they vote to re-elect them in November. Voters should also ask all candidates for the state House if they support this bill.”

“The House Republican leadership now faces a choice,” said Hanger. “Either bring the medical marijuana bill up for a vote before the election, or prolong the suffering of the individuals and families that need this medicine. I sincerely hope and urge Representative Michael Turzai and Representative Sam Smith to do the right thing.”

Corbett returns the favors

Marty Lane is a politically-connected businessman who owns insurance companies and property management firms. He has donated $88,000 to Corbett’s campaigns and paid $1800 toward the cost of Mrs. Corbett’s inaugural ball gown. Now Corbett has returned those favors and nominated Lane’s son, Gregory, to be one of two commissioners at the Civil Service Commission for a 6-year term at a yearly salary of $82,500. Watch local TV coverage of the story here.

Corbett also lived in a Martin Lane-owned luxury condo (example of a unit in picture below) in Harrisburg while he was the attorney general. Did Corbett pay full market rent for the condo? If so, it should be easy for the governor to release the rent receipts and cancelled checks.

Corbett makes McDonnel's crimes look minor

The corruption conviction of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell should send chills through Harrisburg, where gift-taking is as natural as breathing. And the Pennsylvania official who should be shivering hardest is Governor Corbett.

McDonnell was not convicted for corruption of legally defined official acts, such as making appointments to office, but instead for what Politico described as “fairly mundane things” like arranging government meetings for a businessman who was trying to promote a dietary supplement. 

By contrast, the public record documents that Corbett has taken $18,658 in gifts from eight different people or companies doing business with the state and standing to benefit from the official actions of the governor and top officials. 

The starkest case involves gifts given to Tom Corbett by shale-gas drilling waste-hauler and Corbett donor John Moran.  Moran gave Tom Corbett two large gifts: a yacht vacation for the governor and Mrs. Corbett valued at $1,422.80 in July 2011, and free flights for the governor on Moran's private plane and helicopter the following September.  

The fact the governor accepts big gifts from donors with regulatory matters before state regulators is bad enough, but more troubling are the benefits Moran got back from Corbett.

A week before shoving off on their the yacht voyage, Moran joined the board of Team PA, the state-funded economic development organization that Corbett co-chairs.

Then, a day before Corbett took his free air travel, he appointed Moran’s wife to the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission and Moran himself to the Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation.

And in March, 2012, while Corbett, his wife and Moran were on an all-expenses-paid Team PA trade mission to Europe, DEP closed an investigation begun during the Rendell administration into Moran’s drilling-waste hauling operation and found it did not need an environmental permit.

The governor did much more for Mr. Moran than simply arrange meetings with state employees, as McDonnell did, even though the Virginia case makes clear that arranging such meetings for gift-givers is quite enough to violate the law.

Corbett’s conduct — already part of the public record, and summarized in a report by the Pennsylvania People’s Campaign at http://www.scribd.com/doc/226947813/Corbett-Gifts-and-Influencefinal — is appalling.

Based on these documented facts, which are at least as damning as the evidence that convicted McDonnell, government-integrity activist Gene Stilp has filed a complaint against the Governor with the Ethics Commission.

Indeed, the McDonnell verdict suggests that, at the very least, a full investigation by law enforcement with subpoena power should start immediately.

Did Corbett pay rent for apartment 402?

Gene Stilp, government reform activist and candidate for the state House of Representative, has sent a letter to Governor Corbett asking him if he paid fair market rent for an apartment he lived in while he was Attorney General. The apartment is owned by Martin Lane, who has donated at least $88,000 to Corbett’s political campaigns and gave $1800 toward the cost of Mrs. Corbett’s inaugural gown. The governor must quickly provide an answer to this and several other questions Stilp posed in his letter and in a complaint filed at the Ethics Commission involving the appointment of Sheri Phillips as Secretary of the Department of General Services. The letter from Stilp to the governor, his ethics complaint and supporting documentation can be seen at http://www.scribd.com/doc/236816076/Gene-Stilp-s-letter-to-Gov-Corbett-Ethics-Complaint-Reference-Documents/

Stilp has asked serious questions that deserve prompt answers. To understand the basis for these questions, readers need to understand the context and the relationships among Corbett, Martin and Phillips.

Martin G. Lane, Jr. is a Harrisburg businessman who owns several insurance agencies and property management companies, including Aegis Security, JGS Holdings and JGS Management. He also owns unit 402 in a high-end condominium property at 2837 North Front Street in Harrisburg, one of several units in the building he has owned over the years, including unit 302. Martin contributed at least $88,000 to Corbett’s political campaigns and donated $1,800 toward the cost of Susan Corbett’s $10,076 inaugural gown.

Sheri L. Phillips is currently Secretary of the Department of General Services. Prior to holding the secretary position, she was Director of Management Services in the Attorney General’s office while Corbett was the Attorney General. As of February of 2011, she resided in unit 302 at 2837 North Front Street in Harrisburg. She also owns a 10% interest in Lane’s JGS Holdings and JGS Management and has listed she received direct or indirect income from Aegis Security. In subsequent financial disclosure filings, Phillips lists her address as 401 North Street in Harrisburg, which is her work address.

While he was Attorney General, Corbett lived in unit 402 of 2837 North Front Street. From 2008 to 2013, Corbett accepted $18,000 in gifts from political contributors, all of whom do business with the state. The gifts include a luxury yacht vacation, an all-expenses paid trip to New York City that included hotel, dinner and a Broadway show and transportation on private planes and helicopters. Some of the gift-givers received state benefits in the form of appointments to influential boards and commissions, favorable government agency decisions and the passage of legislation favorable to their financial interests. Other than the donation toward the gown, Corbett did not disclose receiving other gifts from Lane.

Given his history of accepting gifts from political donors, Corbett must quickly confront any appearance of impropriety regarding his residence in a Martin Lane owned property. He can easily do that by providing rent receipts or other proof that he paid fair market value rent for Apartment 402 at 2837 North Front Street, Harrisburg.

Release: Report on Corbett's accepting gifts, giving favors - groups call for investigation

Corbett took gifts, contributions; Gave plum appointments, favorable legislation, and regulatory decisions to gift-givers

Government reform advocates call for investigation; ethics complaint filed

Harrisburg – A report released today by government reform advocates in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh documents government benefits delivered by Governor Tom Corbett to some people and organizations which had provided significant gifts to the governor. In some cases, less than a week separates the date of a gift to the governor and the benefit to the gift-giver.

 The report documents shocking facts that pose a stark question: Is Governor Corbett above the law? Corbett and his wife received a total of $18,658.00 in significant gifts from businesses, individuals who have government permits, contracts or are regulated by state government. The value of the gifts approaches the value of gifts taken by legislators and a judge in the notorious Ali sting operation run by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office.

 While the legislature and the attorney general’s office have investigated gift-taking by members of the General Assembly, no investigation to date has begun of the governor’s taking of gifts and providing benefits to those who gave.

 "Today, we are calling for official investigations into the governor's habit of receiving gifts and granting the gift-givers favors," said Gene Stilp. "This kind of crony politics where government benefits flow to a favored few able to gain special access and competitive advantages by greasing the wheels with gifts and campaign contributions must end. It’s morally and ethically repugnant and may be illegal.”

Gene Stilp today filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission.

"Among the citizens of Pennsylvania, this is not a question worth debating. More than 90% of us want to prohibit public officials from taking anything of value -- anything -- from those seeking to influence government decisions,” said Tim Potts. “It's time for Gov. Corbett to lead by example and make state government as ethical as the people he serves want it to be."

The report also found that Corbett’s gift-givers contributed at least $1,132,050.48 to his campaigns for governor and attorney general. The gifts Corbett received include: a yacht vacation, tickets to high society fundraisers; NFL playoff games; a day in New York City including hotel, dinner and Broadway show tickets; and air transportation on private planes.

The benefits the givers received were favorable environmental permitting decisions, appointments to influential boards and commissions, government contracts, and support for legislation.

Allen Kukovich, former State Senator and State Representative, co-founder of Common Cause in Pennsylvania, an-Author of Pennsylvania’s Ethics Law, said, “For more than four decades I have seen how special interests have had an unfair advantage in Harrisburg.

“But I have never seen an administration with a culture of doing business that allows special interest money to have such an undue influence over state government. At the very least, it’s time to pass a law banning gifts to all elected officials in State Government, including the office of the governor.”

“Ordinary citizens and small businesses that cannot afford large campaign contributions or lavish gifts for the governor cannot get fair treatment or a fair hearing on their issues and concerns,” concluded John Hanger. “Corbett’s gift practices have torched the integrity of state government. Investigations by the Pennsylvania Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney’s office, the Dauphin County District Attorney and/or the Pennsylvania Auditor General can determine whether or not any laws have been broken.”

The report was produced by Pennsylvania People’s Campaign and Progressive Philly Rising. It was released in simultaneous press events in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.

A pdf copy of the full report with a timeline spreadsheet detailing gifts received and government benefit given is available online at http://www.scribd.com/doc/226947813/Corbett-Gifts-and-Influencefinal. The report is also available at http://peoplescampaign.blogspot.com/ and http://progressiveparising.wordpress.com/

 

Corbett's Gifts and Favors: Government Benefits Received by Some who Gave Gifts to Corbett

This report was complied by the Pennsylvania People's Campaign and Progressive Philly Rising.

Executive Summary: Is Tom Corbett Above the Law?

While the legislature and the attorney general’s office have investigated gift-taking by members of the General Assembly and a judge, no investigation has begun of the governor’s taking of gifts and the receipt of government benefits by some those who gave. This report documents shocking facts that demand an investigation and pose a stark question: is Gov. Corbett above the law?

 

Gov. Corbett has delivered substantial benefits to several people and companies that have made large gifts to him and his wife. The benefits provided by the governor include appointments to state commissions, appointments to the board of the state-funded and controlled Team Pennsylvania which the governor co-chairs, a contract worth hundreds of thousands of dollars entered into without competitive bidding, and regulatory relief. In some instances, less than a week separates the date of the gift to the governor and the receipt of a benefit to the gift-giver.

 

A review of public records[1] finds that Gov. Corbett and his wife have received a total of $28,424.66 in significant gifts. Of this total, $18,658.00 came from people and businesses that do business with or are regulated by the state. Two major gifts, a gown and jacket for Mrs. Corbett, were given by designer who appears to have received no benefit; therefore, the value is not included in the $18,658.00. Also, not included in these totals are expenses paid by other organizations for the governor to attend conferences, meetings or speaking engagements or gifts that are plainly ceremonial. Gift givers have also made $1,132,050.48 in campaign contributions to the governor.

 

Gifts to the Corbetts approach the total value of the cash and jewelry given to legislators and a judge in the notorious Ali sting operation. But, unlike the Ali scandal, in which no meaningful quid pro quo has been demonstrated, the governor's gift givers, in several instances, received favorable actions—appointments to commissions and influential organizations like Team Pennsylvania Foundation, contracts, grants, and regulatory relief from the Corbett Administration. Based on the current public record, gift givers to the governor have received more and bigger benefits from the Corbett Administration than what has been revealed in the much-heralded Ali sting.

In some cases, the giving of the gift and the receipt of a benefit took place close together. The timing of these gifts and receipt of the benefit add to the need for a full investigation.

 

Immediate Action Needed

We are calling for a thorough investigation of Gov. Corbett’s acceptance of gifts and subsequent benefits to donors. We are asking the Auditor General, the Attorney General, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the United States Department of Justice and/or the Dauphin County District Attorney to begin investigations. The next governor must re-issue an executive order on his first day banning employees and officials in the executive branch from accepting gifts. We also are calling for the General Assembly to pass legislation banning all government officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists, individuals, and entities that do business with or which are regulated by state government.

GOVERNMENT FOR SALE

Appointments to Commissions and Boards, Favorable Regulatory Action and Legislation

The gift givers, in several instances, received favorable actions—appointments to commissions and influential organizations, contracts, regulatory relief from the Corbett Administration, or passage of favorable legislation. There are two examples when less than a week separated the date of the gift to the governor and favorable treatment by the governor or his administration to the gift giver. Repeatedly, a gift is given to the governor and then a benefit flows to the gift giver. Based on what is in the public record now, gift givers to the governor have received more and bigger benefits from the Corbett Administration than what has been revealed in the Ali sting.

A Special Partnership – Tom Corbett and Team Pennsylvania Foundation

Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA) is non-profit charitable (501 C 3) organization created in 1997 to bring business and government together to work on economic development in the Commonwealth. Its board is comprised of state agency heads, one member from each legislative chamber, and representatives from local economic development organizations, utilities, labor unions, lobbying firms, universities, and variety of businesses and industries. Most of its revenue comes from investments and grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

In 2001, Gov. Tom  Ridge institutionalized Team PA within state government by issuing an executive order directing state agencies to recognize Team PA as a unique and trusted partner. On May 3, 2011 Gov. Corbett signed an executive order that strengthened Ridge’s order by directing the governor to include Team PA leadership on all relevant state government commissions, boards, and appointments to other bodies.

A seat on the Team PA board is a coveted plum. Board members can anticipate appointments to boards and commissions. Board members also get direct access legislators and state agency heads and to unparalleled business networking opportunities and accompany the governor on overseas trade missions. Over the last three years, Team PA paid the tab for Corbett’s and his wife’s participation in three trade missions, a total of $25,578.84. 

A CHRONICLE OF GIFTS AND FAVORS

A review of Corbett’s ethics disclosure filings and campaign contributions available online between 2008 and 2013 shows that:

·       Corbett and his wife have received a total of $28,424.66 in gifts from people and businesses.

·       The gift donors have also made a total of $1,131,050.48 to Corbett in campaign contributions.

CORBETT GIFT DONORS WHO GAVE GIFTS AND RECEIVED BENEFITS

John Moran

Campaign contributions - $141,833.06

Gifts - $2,324.60

John Moran runs a business empire from Watsontown, Northumberland County. His lines of business include trucking, rigging, warehousing, security, information services, and construction. He hauls waste over road and rail for the shale drillers. News reports indicate that Moran began to haul shale drilling waste the day before Corbett took office as governor, before he had a determination from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that the operation did not need a permit.

Moran joined the Team PA board in June of 2011 shortly after Corbett signed the new executive order that directs the governor to appoint Team PA leadership to all relevant boards, commissions and other bodies. About a week after being appointed to the board, Moran treated Corbett and his wife to a luxury yacht vacation in Rhode Island. A few weeks later, in September, Corbett appointed John Moran to the Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation and Mrs. Moran to the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission. The day after the appointments, Moran provided Corbett with free air transportation on Moran’s private plane and helicopter. In March of 2012, Moran accompanied Corbett on the trade mission to France and Germany.

During the same time the DEP ruled that Moran did not need a permit to operate a gas drilling waste hauling operation in Sunbury. In June of 2012, Moran was named co-chair of Team PA at the governor’s urging.

Here’s the timeline:

·       Between 2008 and 2013, Moran contributed a total of $141,883.06 to Corbett’s campaign.

·       In December 2010, Corbett named Moran to the Economic Development Committee of his transition team.

·       On June 26, 2011, Moran joined the board of Team PA, an economic development organization made up of state officials and private businesses.

·       On July 1, 2011, Moran gave Corbett a four-day vacation on his private yacht in Newport, Rhode Island worth $1,422.80. Corbett initially failed to disclose the gift on his 2011 ethics disclosure form, but amended it later to show the gift.

·       On September 29, 2011 Corbett appointed Mrs. Ann Moran, John’s wife, to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

·       On September 29, 2011, he appointed Mr. Moran to the Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation Commission.

·       On September 30, 2011 Moran provide Corbett and his wife free air transportation with a value of $901.80 on his private helicopter and airplane.

·       On March 8 - 23 of 2012, Moran, in his capacity as a Team PA board member, accompanied Corbett and Corbett’s wife on a trade mission to France and Germany. Corbett’s and his wife’s ethics filings show that Team PA paid the $10,856.00 cost for each of them.

·       On March 16, 2012 DEP deemed that Moran did not need a permit to operate a truck-to-train gas drilling waste hauling business in Sunbury.

·       On June 18, 2012, at Corbett’s urging, Moran was named the private sector co-chair of Team PA. The government sector chair is Corbett.

·       Team PA paid $1,154 for Corbett to travel to Silicon Valley, California for a trade mission on September 13-15, 2012

·       Team PA paid $13,568.84 for Corbett to travel to South America for a trade mission on April 6-17, 2013. News accounts indicate that Susan Corbett also went, but her 2013 ethics filing is not yet available on the Ethics Commission website.

·       On November 22, 2013, Moran took over a distressed commercial property in Harrisburg for under $300,000.

Moran has clearly benefited from his close relationship with the governor, receiving appointments to a board and commission where he can establish and strengthen business connections at the highest level. Corbett made appointments of both Morans to influential commissions within weeks of accepting a free vacation on Moran’s yacht.

Blank Rome

Campaign contributions - $54,211.96

Gifts - $10,065

Blank Rome is a high-powered law firm with an office in Philadelphia. Between 2008 and 2013, Blank Rome employees have contributed $54,211.96 to Corbett’s political campaigns. The largest contribution was reported on December 31, 2012.

In 2008 and 2010 this law firm also treated Corbett and his wife to premium tickets valued at $10,000 to fundraisers for the Philadelphia Academy of Music. In 2010, Blank Rome bought Corbett a $65 ticket to the Phillies home opener.

In January 2013, Corbett gave Blank Rome a $200,000 contract to defend his administration from a lawsuit filed by AFSCME against his plan to privatize the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Vahan Gureghian

Campaign contributions - $332,714.25

Gifts - $500

Vahan Gureghian, Corbett’s biggest single campaign donor, owns Charter School Management, Inc. (CSMI) which owns and operates or provides back-office support for charter schools in nine states. Between 2008 and 2013, he donated $332,714.25 to Corbett’s political campaigns. The contributions include $136,714.25 in 2009. The 2009 contributions include two in November in amounts of $34,285.68 and $1,428.57. His 2010 Corbett campaign contributions totaled $190,000. In November 2009, Gureghian gave Corbett two World Series shirts worth $400, and in December the same year, he sent Corbett a gift basked valued at $100.

Gureghian still operates Chester Community Charter School, the first charter school he founded. Chester Community Charter School is the largest bricks and mortar school in the state enrolling half of Chester’s school children. He owns the buildings, hires the teachers, and runs the schools. Chester Community also pays CSMI a management fee. In 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education opened an investigation of Chester Community for possible cheating on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests. In October 2012, the department closed its investigation. The department did find irregularities, but issued no sanctions against Chester Community.

Frank Schoeneman

Contributions - $48,382

Gifts - $1,406.80

Frank Schoeneman runs Empire Education Group, the nation’s largest chain of cosmetology schools. Between 2008 and 2013, Schoeneman contributed $48,382 to Corbett’s campaigns. In January of 2012, he made two separate contributions on the same day of $1,530 and $3,416.85. In January of 2011, he provided free air transportation to Corbett on his private plane with a value of $1,406.80.

In December of 2012, Corbett signed legislation that lowered the requirements for obtaining a cosmetology license.

The Silvi Group Companies

Contributions - $49,800

Gifts - $918.11

The Silvi Group provides stone, concrete, and other materials to road-building projects around the state, including the Route 202 widening project. It also operates stone quarries that are regulated by DEP. Between July of 2008 and April 2012, John and Laurence Silvi donated a total of $49,800 to Corbett’s campaigns. On February 21, 2009, the Silvi Group gave Corbett a day in New York City costing $918.11 that included lunch, dinner, hotel and tickets to a Broadway show.

In December of 2010, Corbett named John Silvi to the Economic Development Committee of his transition team. In January of 2014, Silvi Concrete received a grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority in the amount of $244,222 to construct a public compressed natural gas fueling station at its concrete plant in Downingtown.

Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney

Contributions - $82,566.69

Gifts - $1,162.13

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney is one of the nation’s largest law and lobbying firms with offices in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Between 2008 and 2013, Buchanan employees donated $82,566.69 to Corbett’s campaigns. In March of 2009, the firm treated Corbett to two dinners with its CEO, Jack Barbour, with a value of $837.15. In January 2011, Buchanan bought Corbett tickets to two NFL playoff games with a value of $325.00.

Corbett administration advisory boards and commissions are peppered with Buchanan personnel. There were eight employees of the firm on Corbett’s transition team. Corbett named Jack Barbour chair of the Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation in September 2011. The firm represents clients with myriad contracts, proposals, permits, and business with the Commonwealth, including the gas drilling industry. Buchanan lobbies for a range of legislation that would benefit both the firm itself and its clients.

 

GIFT DONORS WITH SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS BEFORE STATE GOVERNMENT OR REGULATED BY THE STATE

The following gift-givers received no government benefit.

Martin Lane

Contributions - $88,488

Gifts - $1,800

Martin Lane is Chief Operating Officer, General Manager, and President of Aegis Security Insurance Company in Harrisburg. Between 2008 and 2010 he donated $88,488 to Corbett’s campaigns. In January, he contributed $1,800 to the cost of First Lady Susan Corbett’s inaugural gown.

Lane’s insurance business is regulated by the state.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)/ Robert Kennedy

Contributions - $334,014.32

Gifts - $472.00

Between 2008 and 2013, UPMC employees donated $334,014.32 to Corbett’s campaigns. On New Year’s Day 2011, Robert Kennedy, UPMC’s vice president of government relations, treated Corbett to the Pittsburgh Penguins Winter Classic Brunch and hockey game with a value of $472.00.

UPMC is regulated by the state and has been embroiled in disputes with its union employees and Highmark Insurance.

GIFT DONOR NOT REGULATED BY STATE GOVERNMENT, NOT RECEIVING ANY BENEFIT

Andries Couture

Gifts - $9766.00

Andries donated a ball gown valued at $8,276.00 to Susan Corbett for the inauguration and gave her a jacket worth $1,500 for her birthday in 2011.

Conclusion

For generations, access, influence, and power in the halls of Pennsylvania state government have flowed to those who make large campaign donations to politicians.

During the Corbett administration, the cash-corrupted culture of state government morphed into an even more venal form. Now even huge political donations are not enough -- state government has entered the age of the big personal gift. Lavish and expensive gifts have become the icing on the campaign donation cake, and in some instances, the gifts are so significant that they may be the cake itself.

The man most responsible for creating the culture of giving and taking big gifts by government officials is Governor Corbett. The taking of the major gifts by Gov. Corbett and the benefits flowing to some of those who provided the major gift is scandalous. It may also be illegal.

The actions of the governor raise substantial legal issues that should be fully investigated. At this point, public confidence in state government cannot be restored without such an inquiry as well as the banning of all gifts to legislators and those working in state government. 

 

1 filed by Governor Corbett available online at http://www.ethicsrulings.state.pa.us/weblink8/CustomSearch.aspx?SearchName=SearchforStatementsofFinancialInterestsforms and Campaign Finance Reports available online at https://www.campaignfinanceonline.state.pa.us/pages/CFReportSearch.aspx