Apr 4, 2014 2 min read

HARRISBURG — Calling the change a furtherance of his commitment to open, transparent and accountable government, state Rep. Timothy S. Mahoney, D-South Union Township, is supporting a new ethics rule that prohibits House members and employees from accepting cash gifts from lobbyists or influence-seekers.

Now in his eighth year as a House member, Mahoney said he has never accepted cash — or for that matter, any other gifts such as lodging or tickets.

“I’ve never taken anything for free,” he said.

 Mahoney said the new rule — crafted by Democratic and Republican House leaders, and adopted by the House Bipartisan Management Committee — gives the House a tougher standard than the state Ethics Act, which exempts “gifts” of less than $250 from being reported.

“By imposing an outright ban on cash gifts, House leaders of both parties are eliminating a questionable practice — and with it, an appearance of impropriety in many people’s minds,” Mahoney said. “The old rule didn’t require donations of up to $250 per year to be reported on financial disclosure forms. But to many people, including me, that weak standard doesn’t pass the smell test.”

Mahoney said that while the new House rule still permits gifts from a spouse, relative or friend, it greatly addresses the problem of influence-peddling by walling off the practice to those who seek to curry governmental favor.

“I believe this change represents forward movement in the march toward better government,” said Mahoney, who authored the House version of the state’s updated Open Records Law as part of that commitment. “The time was ripe to adopt this ban — and this may not be the end.”

Mahoney noted that some House and Senate members are huddling in regard to introducing game-changing legislation that would ban cash, gift cards, money orders and the like, which he supports.

 “I eagerly look forward to playing a role in that process, so we can approve laws ending practices that don’t settle well with the public we collectively serve,” Mahoney said.