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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 21, 2016 10:56 AM
From:	Senator Lawrence M. Farnese, Jr.
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Disclosure of Gifts from Friends on Financial Interest Statements

In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation that would require gifts from “friends” to be disclosed on financial interest statements. In order to ensure the public trust, elected officials must be held to the highest ethical standards when disclosing their financial interests, including gifts from friends. When extravagant gifts are bestowed upon elected officials under the guise of “friendship” and those gifts are not publicly disclosed, our ability to lead with integrity and honesty is irrevocably sullied. Currently, Section 1105(b)(6) of the Pennsylvania State Ethics Act requires that the sources and amounts of gifts from a single source over $250 be disclosed on a candidate's or public official's financial interest statement. This same section provides exceptions to disclosure, including gifts from “friends” who are not registered lobbyists or employees of registered lobbyists. My legislation would remove the “friend” exception, leaving only the current exceptions to disclosure for gifts from family members. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation to ensure greater public trust and more transparent disclosures from all elected officials in Pennsylvania.

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