Pennsylvania lawmakers must pass, and Gov. Tom Corbett, must sign, a total gift ban for Pennsylvania's elected officials.

No more gifts!

Too many of our elected officials, lacking native integrity, act on mercenary motives without regard to honor, right, or justice. A total gift ban is necessary in the absence of public officials' proven ability to practice self-control.

It's frustrating when legislators promise reform and nothing happens. Receipts for per diems? Those in the private sector must comply, why not the public?

ITS LONG OVERDUE

Lowman Henry's column is excellent; things are just warming up as all the "honorables" are out of Hbg.; "English as the official language?" The Emperor Nero didn't know any. Enuf is enuf.

need to restore public trust in elected officials which needs to start at the TOP

We need to reform our elite corrupt legislature.

Not accepting gifts while you're in public service is so basic to honest legislative activity that it's embarrassing to have to even take such steps to eliminate it. But we have to do what we can and this is a step in the right direction.

Make it happen

Lawmakers OVER PAID !!

This is a beginning, but small step. We also need campaign finance reform, term limits, open primaries, fair ballot access and a constitutional convention to achieve these goals.

Huge need to reduce the influence of "power money" on government actions.

I would like to know why the proposed reform specifies cash. It appears to me to be building in loopholes for such things as golf outings, trips, hotel stays, material gifts, etc.

Pennsylvania should be leading the nation, rather than pleading it's case to retain the status quo.There should be no further discussion or excuses made by those who clearly have the most to gain by keeping the status quo. Time to bring back the pink pig (yep, when pigs fly) to hold a vigil over the state capitol until the law is changed, per Stilp's and others' recommendations. WE ARE... a national embarrassment...

1. It should be a crime (scaled by severity) for elected officials or government employees at all levels of government in Pennsylvania, to accept gifts of any kind and of any value from anyone but their immediate family. 2. Those found guilty of offering such gifts (whether they are accepted or not) should be punished at the same level as in point #1 above. 3. The body of the law should not exceed more than one, 8-1/2 X 11 sheet of paper, in length. The time might be right for this obvious and long overdue legislation with so much corruption at the forefront of the news.

Pennsylvania citizens are not fairly served when the politicians are bought and paid for by special interest groups or affluent citizens.

This should have been done many years ago

It's about time these excesses are banned from our legislators. Too long sucking on the illegal teats of lobbyists and other advocates. If their salaries aren't enough...get a real job!

As a retired State emnployee witgh 29 years of service, I saw many, many cases of politicians ignoring our suggested amendments in the laws that we were charged to enforce, all to new avail as they iognored our recommendations and passed provisions detrimental to their constituents. Time to eliminate ALL gifts, whether in cash, gifts, or junkets.

No gifts. Pass election reforms, independent redistricting, public campaign financing, etc.