By Steven Viera || Senior Editor
Speaking from the Patricia E. Harris Center of Business, Government & Public Policy, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf called for a series of ethics reforms in government. During his remarks, Wolf referred to a “trust deficit” between politicians and the public that he sought to close.
Dan Porterfield, president of the College, introduced Wolf to the small gathering of students and faculty, and he expressed enthusiasm for the latter’s upcoming Commencement Address. Then, taking the podium, Wolf explained his plan to curb political favors.
“We need to make sure that we have a government that the people who we work for can actually trust,” he said.
The plan includes a ban on members of the administration accepting gifts of any kind in their capacity as public officials, requiring the disclosures of outside income earned by public employees and campaign contributions from companies seeking state contracts, increased lobbying oversight—as of now, Wolf pointed out, the Department of State only audits three percent of lobbying disclosures—and campaign finance reform.
“The goal is to create a government in Harrisburg and in Pennsylvania that people can believe in,” Wolf said.
Wolf also responded to a question regarding students’ perceptions of politicians and how they might receive his message; Wolf pointed out that today’s students are disaffected as a result of distrust in politics.
“It’s a disaffection we deserve,” he said, then expressed his hope that students would take a greater interest in politics and called for a new wave of student activism.
Senior Steven Viera is the Senior Editor. His email is sviera@fandm.edu.