PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER EDITORIAL: …In April, Republican lawmakers from both sides of the Delaware joined Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, a Democrat with a seat on the DRPA board, in proposing the reforms. Most importantly, they would revoke the agency’s broad leeway to fund “economic development” projects far afield of its bridges and rail line. Agency officials claim to have kicked that habit, though not before provoking a federal investigation by frittering away half a billion dollars for museums, stadiums, hospitals, and other questionable purposes.
The legislation would also take such less-than-revolutionary steps as requiring the DRPA to undergo biennial audits, obey open-records laws, disclose contractors’ political contributions, and refrain from paying employees more than $175,000 a year…
Of course, it’s preposterous to suggest that either port authority is shipshape. The most accurate criticism of the DRPA legislation is that it doesn’t go far enough. While the agency has taken a turn toward its core functions and away from its worst practices, that shouldn’t prevent legislators from making the progress official and permanent… (more)
