Mar 22, 2016 By Richard Ringer 5 min read

Politics, I thought for a long time, was never dirtier, more corrupt and having a perplexing ability to stymie progress than in Chicago and Illinois. My belief held firm until late 2011 when after leaving Chicago, Uniontown and Pennsylvania once again became my home.

Hands-on experience drove my conclusion about politics in the Windy City and the Land of Lincoln. While Chicago was my home for about 25 years, working on political campaigns much of the last 12 years there paid my bills. I was what is called a “political operative,” the least derisive label I can put in print here. That experience exposed me not only to a long list of dirty tricks some candidates used to get elected but also the hugely insane amounts of money candidates needed to win an election. And how politics halted pragmatism.

And if elected an even harsher reality set in. To remain in office, to win re-election, the official needed even more cash from even more donors. It was a vicious cycle of the candidate calling, sometimes begging supporters for financial donations and other people generously throwing gifts and money to the official in the hope, even expectation, of gaining influence over a cause or policy, or simply wanting a favor.

Pennsylvania is no different. Money is the keystone for politics in the Keystone state. I don’t have or need experience working in Pennsylvania politics to understand that. No one does. The reality smacks us in the face. Pennsylvania now ranks high, even rivals Illinois in some respects, on my list of not only where political shenanigans are commonplace but also where money perverts politics and where influence peddling is rampant.

Those sins, I’ve believe, are at the core of the government meltdown in the state. Lots of talk among lawmakers and political leaders. Lots of political posturing. Very little action. The failure, for example, to do even the constitutionally mandated requirement of passing a state budget; holding school districts and nonprofit agencies hostage by withholding operating funds because of the budget impasse; the unwillingness of Democrats and Republicans to resolve the future of state-run liquor stores; an evenhanded approach to taxing Marcellus Shale natural gas extractions; the refusal to tackle the gerrymandering of legislative districts, which favors incumbents seeking re-election.

If you don’t share my view about the nasty impact resulting from the comingling of money and politics, consider this: Two nonprofit organizations that promote government transparency and ethics, the Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity, last November gave Pennsylvania and “F” grade on those two attributes. Illinois even graded higher, getting a “D+”.

Does the failing grade mean Pennsylvania is corrupt? No. Does it mean a political culture exists in Pennsylvania that can easily foment corruption? You betcha.

Here’s why: The study looked at what laws are in place and how those laws are implemented in order to assess the systems intended to prevent corruption and expose it when it does occur. Pennsylvania’s failing grade highlights the lack of legislative or executive accountability and the absence of effective ethics entities, as well as weak laws and lackluster oversight of lobbying, political finance, and elections.

So I was not surprised last week when Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf announced a series of reforms, including limiting the size of individual campaign contributions and to make more transparent what lobbyists spend to influence public policy.

I’m not holding my breath, though. The two political parties in the state are already deadlocked on how to settle a number of thornier issues that aren’t being addressed. Why add to their crowded plate? And any bipartisan cooperation on reforms that might impact campaign financing is doubtful with the fall elections looming.

Beyond that, Republicans who control the state legislature will say Wolf’s reform proposal is nothing more than an attempt to prod them into agreeing on his position on legislation languishing in the General Assembly or, at the least, further embarrass them.

Wolf pushing campaign and finance reform right now when there is not even a chance of serious consideration before the next election is the equivalent to President Obama nominating Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court when Republicans in the senate, which must confirm Garland’s confirmation, won’t even meet with him. Still, I think Obama has a better chance of getting what he wants than Wolf.

That’s not to say reform isn’t needed in Pennsylvania. Public officials are not limited on the gifts they can accept. Officials aren’t even required to disclose all gifts they receive. Only gifts valued at $250, and when meals, hospitality or travel from a single source totals more than $650 a year, must be reported.

The Associated Press, reviewing ethics reports from 2014, showed that lawmakers and top government officials collected more than $160,000 in gifts that year.

If that doesn’t rile you up, perhaps this media story will: During the first 100 days of the current budget impasse, state lawmakers spent $243,000 of taxpayer money for their hotel bills and meals. How many school districts, forced to cut staff and programs or borrow money to stay open during the budget impasse, would love to have that money?

Even more problematic in Pennsylvania than gifts is political campaign contributions. Individuals are not limited on the amount of money they can contributed to a campaign, as long as the amount is reported. And while corporations are barred from contributing to campaigns, corporations can create political action committees, PACs, which can contribute directly to a campaign.

One last thought. Illinois, with a Republican governor, and Pennsylvania, with a Democratic governor, are the only two states that have yet to pass a 2015-2016 budget, months beyond the start of their fiscal year and nearly a quarter of the way through 2016. Mindless intransigence. Money and politics at work.

Richard Ringer resides in Uniontown and is the managing director of MW Group, a “virtual” public relations agency. He can be reached at ringer.mwgroup@gmail.com.