The Sunlight in Lobbying Act…ensuring Pennsylvanians know when the families of public officials are beholden to lobbyists.
SUMMARY
I am circulating this memorandum to seek co-sponsors for legislation intended to strengthen transparency and restore public confidence in the integrity of the legislative process and government at large.
This legislation would require members of the General Assembly and any public official or public employee, or person required to file a Statement of Financial Interests to disclose on their Statement of Financial Interests whether any immediate family member has an employment relationship, contractual relationship, ownership interest, or other beneficial financial interest involving a lobbying firm, registered lobbyist, or any entity engaged in lobbying the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
While I support legislation that prohibits this practice outright, this proposal takes an important and immediate step by ensuring the public has full transparency when such relationships exist.
THE GOVERNANCE CONCERN
Good governance requires not only the absence of corruption, but also the absence of the appearance of corruption.
It is widely understood that several members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate—including individuals serving in influential leadership and committee roles—have immediate family members who work for, contract with, or otherwise receive compensation from powerful lobbying firms that regularly seek to influence legislation and state policy.
These positions are often highly lucrative, and while the legislator may not personally receive compensation, the financial benefit to the legislator’s household or immediate family may still be significant.
At a minimum, this dynamic raises serious concerns about:
- preferential access for well-funded lobbying firms
- potential conflicts of interest
- and the erosion of public confidence in the independence of legislative decision-making.
Even when no improper conduct occurs, the public is justified in questioning whether legislative actions or other government decisions are being made solely in the public interest when close family members financially benefit from organizations actively seeking to influence state or local government in the Commonwealth.
WHO IS COVERED
For purposes of disclosure, immediate family member would include:
- spouse
- parent
- sibling
- child or stepchild
- and any individual married to one of the above.
Disclosure would be required where an immediate family member is:
- employed by a lobbying firm or lobbyist
- retained, contracted with, or compensated as a consultant or advisor to a lobbying firm or lobbyist
- an owner, partner, or controlling interest holder in a business entity receiving compensation from a lobbying firm or lobbying client
- or has any beneficial financial interest in a relationship involving lobbying activity intended to influence state or local government action in Pennsylvania.
A FIRST STEP TOWARD MEANINGFUL REFORM
Let me be clear: transparency alone is not the ideal end state.
Allowing immediate family members of lawmakers, elected officials and bureaucrats to profit from lobbying the very institution in which those public officials serve raises serious ethical concerns and undermines confidence in our system of representative government.
However, until the General Assembly is prepared to enact stronger restrictions on these arrangements, the public is at least entitled to clear and complete disclosure.
Sunlight does not solve every problem, but secrecy guarantees distrust.
CONCLUSION
Pennsylvanians deserve confidence that public policy decisions are made in the public interest and not influenced by undisclosed financial relationships.
The proposed legislation is not intended to accuse anyone of wrongdoing. It simply establishes a reasonable transparency standard so that the public can see where potential conflicts may exist.
I respectfully ask you to join me as a co-sponsor of this important transparency reform.