One of the foundational principles of our democracy is government transparency. It is the reason why concepts like freedom of the press are enshrined in our constitution; without it, the people would lose trust in the very government they elect. Unfortunately, government trust is currently at one of its lowest recorded levels, and one reason for this is that the significant presence of lobbying groups has led some to question whether the intentions of their elected officials stem from the needs of their constituents or wealthy interest groups.
 
Public officials in Pennsylvania should spend their time working for the people, not lobbyists. That is why I am introducing legislation to explicitly prohibit a public official or public employee in Pennsylvania from working for a lobbying firm or trade association. This will help limit the influence of special interest groups in Harrisburg while ensuring that Pennsylvanians know that their government is representing their interests.
 
The residents of our state deserve to know the motivations of public officials and public employees. I ask that you co-sponsor this legislation and help improve government transparency while ensuring we in the state legislature continue to earn the public’s trust.