Updated: 18 March 2008
I will fight for clean and open government:
Strengthening open records laws. *This reform was recently enacted.*
Strict lobbying reforms.
Campaign finance reform.
Reforming redistricting methods. Read the guest editorial by Harris Martin: "How political competition is stifled to protect incumbents"
Eliminating legislators’ “walking around money” (WAMs).
Eliminating legislators’ taxpayer-funded campaign ads masquerading as public service announcements.
Outlawing “ghost voting” by legislators.
Posting all state laws on the Internet for public access. *This reform was recently enacted.*
Because of these principles, I was a PACleanSweep candidate in 2006. I am proud of my 2006 association with PACleanSweep
Some progress on reform has been made in Harrisburg but not nearly enough. Some good internal legislative rules changes have been made but more are needed and very little of the needed reform legislation has been passed. Some needed reforms will require amendments to the State Constitution. We may need to go further and hold a state constitutional convention.
I will not seek PACleanSweep affiliation and support this year because PACleanSweep is making unreasonable demands of its candidates. This year, PACleanSweep insists that its legislative candidates promise not to accept any state health insurance, retirement savings plan, or any other benefits. Not even private industry treats its employees this way. However, I continue to support the efforts of government reform groups including PACleanSweep, Democracy Rising, Rock the Capital, Taxpayers and Ratepayers United, and Common Cause. These groups have worked with other groups to put forth packages of proposals for government reform and I have endorsed every one of them.
I strongly support the state judicial reforms proposed in 2006 by Duquesne University law professor Bruce Ledewitz.