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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 8, 2016 11:12 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thaddeus Kirkland |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Contract Prohibition for Public Officials |
| When the public perceives there is a conflict of interest for public officials, it reduces confidence in government and leads to a perception that public officials are serving the special interests – and themselves – more than the people. The people need to have faith and trust in their public officials. That is why it is important for the legislature to institute reforms that erase any real or perceived conflict of interest for the men and women who serve the people of Pennsylvania. To that end, I am introducing legislation that would prohibit public officials or their immediate family members from holding a financial interest in any business or other entity that is party to a contract with a municipality, if the contract is valued at more than $2,500 and the municipality is within the jurisdiction of the official’s public office. The bill also would require public officials who currently have such a financial interest to divest that financial interest within three months of this prohibition becoming law. Public officials should not be able to gain financially due to the office they hold; clearly there is a reasonable perception that a public official whose jurisdiction includes a municipality might enjoy an advantage in bidding for or obtaining contracts with that municipality. The public increasingly believes Harrisburg is broken, and that money plays too much of a role in our politics. This money has allowed special interests to become entrenched in Harrisburg and is drowning out the voice of the people and their priorities. My legislation is one of a number of bills that have been or will be introduced by House Democrats designed to increase transparency in our state and limit the influence of wealthy individuals, corporations and other special interests. These reforms are key to returning control of our politics to the people and restoring trust in our government. Please consider joining me as a co-sponsor of this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1979