Ed Rendell's "lobbying reform"
By Mark Kilmer Posted in 2006 — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Look what Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has done! At his lonesome, requiring all lobbyists chasing his branch of State government to register as lobbyists and report expenses. This is the first lobbying control to cover Governor Ed, the last one having been thrown out by a court in 2002, before he came to town. The people of this commonwealth expect and demand that government maintain the highest standards of integrity and honesty," Rendell said. "They want to know that government is acting appropriately and serving the needs of all of its citizens." Good for Ed, but why now? He's had gambling lobbyists and all other sorts all over him for over three years, and it was fine with him then. Might he hear the stomping of voters' feet?
read on... For his part, Ed says that he was waiting for the legislature to force reform on him.
The Swann campaign issued forth a press release, criticizing Govern Ed for waiting 1,149 days, they say, to "sort of" catch up with Lynn Swann. Swann, they say, would sign one on his first day in office.
Swann's campaign reports: Under Senate rules, if special interests do not comply, they are banned from lobbying for 5 years. Under Ed Rendell’s order, if special interests do not comply, there are no penalties. Ed retorts: But in the meantime, Rendell said, he would act to bar those who don't follow the rules. So it's not written into the EO; rather, it's a promise, straight from Governor Ed.
This is not lobbying reform. Governor Ed has to go. (cross-posted at SwannBlog.)
and independent swing voter who may vote for Swann, I must admit that this has to be the most unconventional state-wide race I've seen in PA in a long, long time. Rendell is no blue-ribbon liberal and Swann is no vetted conservative (he's actually a former Dem) so the liberal/conservative paradigm doesn't work for me here. Neither is a standard bearer of either.
Rendell's fiscal policies are not liberal though I've read of some Keysian-esque initiatives he's promoted to spur business growth. He's cut taxes and tried to bring the debt under control and track record so far can hardly be said to have an ideological stamp on it. What bothers me is his "politicking". Whether this post is an example of that, I'm not really sure.
I'm still learning about Swann. Time will tell.
The big issue I'm concerned with is how they're going to resolve this sales tax/property tax restructuring issue. If it's still in play come election time (I hope it isn't), that policy stance will decide my vote.