By Dick Miller
WE.CONNECT.DOTS: Can there be a more dysfunctional government than what passes for Pennsylvania’s version in Harrisburg?
All three branches fail any test that ranks public service over personal gain, competency over incompetency, responsibility over who-gives-a-damn. These conclusions are drawn just from their year-end actions. Defaults, however, can be tracked over several years, even a couple generations.
The notorious Supreme Court is the oldest and most corrupt in the nation. At the end of 2015, with Republicans holding four of the six filled seats, jurists attempted an end-run involving patronage in the Philadelphia Court system. After the 2015 elections that 4-2 GOP majority was about to change to 5-2 Democrats.
Further, at least two Supreme Court Justices, also Republican, exchanged pornographic emails with other judges, prosecutors and court personnel. One resigned and the second has been suspended (with pay of $200,000 per year and benefits) in a process by a disciplinary committee. The solicitor of this committee was a member of this same jurist’s campaign group. This we had to learn from others.
In recent years one Supreme resigned after her conviction for using public resources to win her election campaign. After another jurist was driven from his cushy seat we learned his wife, at the public trough as his office manager, was getting referral fees for doling out lucrative cases.
Then there is the executive branch, headed by Democrat Tom Wolf completing the first year of his first term. Wolf claims everyone should do his bidding because the voters gave him a mandate in 2014. In reality, his opponent Tom Corbett defeated Tom Corbett. He did not get a second term because Corbett is the most incompetent governor in modern times.
Even with his own party controlling both houses of the legislature and the judiciary Corbett accomplished little. After his four years of such non-stellar leadership, the Republican agenda of pension and public education reform, liquor store privatization, property tax reduction and the like remain unfilled.
Wolf bought the Democrat gubernatorial primary with $10 million of his own money. When the Democrat State Committee refused to install his choice for chair, Wolf continued his campaign separate from the regular organization.
Thanks to the nation’s most successful gerrymandering of legislative district boundaries and Wolf’s stupidity or ignorance, Republicans were able to increase their margins in both the House and Senate. They also claimed a mandate at the same election.
After setting a record for longest time without an annual operating budget, Wolf signed a partial version to keep monies flowing to schools and social services. He expected the legislature to get back to work to complete the budget.
That was two weeks ago.
The same 2014 elections where Wolf claims his mandate also produced a group of 50 Republican lawmakers who are anti-tax and ultra-fiscal conservative. They believe the state is back in operation still without a major tax hike.
Bottom Line: At best, Republican lawmaker caucuses may provide votes to increase tobacco taxes and allow internet gambling and expansion of slots. If there has to be new revenues, poor people paying up fits the Republican mold.
The Democrat caucuses in the House and Senate remain “out to lunch.” Their attitude: “Why cast a vote for a tax hike to pay for a budget that will never get adopted?” That vote could be used against them when re-election time comes.
Ten of Wolf’s 18 cabinet appointments also served in important posts under former governor Ed Rendell. Ex-Philadelphia Mayor and national Democrat heavyweight, Rendell was also late with his budget every year, but toyed with Republicans and got what he wanted.
One year after Corbett was knocked out of the Governor’s mansion, there has been almost no improvement to state government. We are looking at an eight-year vacuum in executive leadership in Harrisburg, if Wolf does not show more talents.
