tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post7332938010676293504..comments2023-10-24T11:05:25.288-04:00Comments on Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events: Rendell: Hijacking the Reform TrainMark Rauterkushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post-13184052666601355982007-04-02T11:58:00.000-04:002007-04-02T11:58:00.000-04:00Editorial | Reform in HarrisburgRendell's on board...<I>Editorial | Reform in Harrisburg<BR/><BR/>Rendell's on board<BR/><BR/>Gov. Rendell's call for sweeping reforms of the legislature and of the state election system gives a valuable boost to a shakeup already under way in Harrisburg.<BR/><BR/>Rendell caused some observers to snicker when he proposed limiting<BR/>individual donations to statewide candidates to $5,000. After all, he's the mega-fund-raiser who spent $32 million to get reelected last year. Rendell collected 560 individual donations that exceeded $5,000, including 15 of<BR/>$100,000 or more. Even Rendell concedes that his conversion is a<BR/>Nixon-to-China moment.<BR/><BR/>Other proposals include toughening the state's open-records law, imposing term limits on legislators, instituting merit selection of appellate judges,<BR/>redistricting through a nonpartisan process, and trimming the size of the 253-member legislature.<BR/><BR/>Some critics accuse the governor of hopping aboard a reform train that has already gathered steam in the House and Senate. Who cares? When the governor and the legislature try to outdo each other with proposals for good government, citizens win.<BR/><BR/>Many of Rendell's suggestions will likely be considered this year by the special reform commission appointed by Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R., Phila.). The bipartisan panel already has made significant progress this year in changing House rules to shed more light on their work and limit the<BR/>influence of party leaders.<BR/><BR/>On another track, Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R., Dauphin) is drafting a proposal to hold a citizens' constitutional convention. The plan, which would bar legislators from participating, would set a meeting of 150 delegates, likely<BR/>in the summer of 2008. Although the scope of such a convention isn't clear, delegates could consider ideas such as allowing a graduated income tax and providing a dedicated source of transit funding.<BR/><BR/>All of this movement toward cleaning up Harrisburg is the direct result of the legislative pay-raise scandal of 2005. More than 50 new legislators were<BR/>elected last year, many of them promising to change the way Harrisburg does business.<BR/><BR/>Before committing to a constitutional convention, it makes sense to see what this new wave of legislators can accomplish this year. One of their priorities should be restoring order to the state's campaign-finance system.<BR/>The current absence of contribution limits is an embarrassment that allows big-money donors to wield too much influence in individual races. Rendell's suggestion of a $5,000 limit for statewide races and $2,000 for legislative<BR/>seats is a sensible starting point.<BR/><BR/>Likewise, merit selection of judges is a needed change. Requiring judges to raise campaign money from lawyers taints all jurists with the same broad brush of potential conflict, and nobody knows it better than judges. Rendell<BR/>proposes a nominating commission to come up with a list of candidates. The governor would then nominate a judge, subject to Senate confirmaton.<BR/><BR/>Merit selection is a heavy lift politically; an overwhelming majority of respondents in a recent Keystone Poll said they wanted to preserve the popular election of judges. But the current setup undermines public confidence in the judiciary.<BR/><BR/>Term limits for legislators is one area where Rendell is off the track. He wants to limit representatives and senators to eight years in office, saying the legislature ought not to be a career. A more fair, nonpartisan redistricting process would help to keep elections competitive without imposing an artificial limit on candidates and voters alike.<BR/><BR/>Redistricting and trimming the legislature are not likely to get a warm reception from state lawmakers. There lies the challenge. Legislators can tackle these difficult subjects now, or face a new round of citizen revolt.<BR/><BR/>http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20070402_Editorial___Reform_in_Harrisburg.html<BR/></I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com