A long overdue bill that would make it illegal for a Pennsylvania public official to accept certain types of gifts, including cash, is making its way through the Legislature. This commonsense reform would modestly strengthen the commonwealth’s uniquely lax gift laws, which have allowed lobbyists to buy influence with free meals, tickets and travel.

But state lawmakers, seemingly unable to give up the freebies, are attempting to work in a lengthy list of exceptions that would allow the trickle of gifts to continue. Should this sleight of hand be approved, it would represent a shameful disrespect of Pennsylvania voters — who expect their representatives not to receive goodies or other special treatment, but to do the actual work of legislating – and confirm that the nation’s largest full-time legislature is unwilling or unable to adequately regulate itself.

Although not part of the formal job description, some state legislators seem to believe that extravagant living, often gifted to them by big-money donors or influence-hungry lobbyists, is part of the gig. Overseas trips, admission to black-tie galas, box seats at sporting events — these lawmakers have enjoyed a taste of the high life.

But following the sentencing last year of state Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, D-Philadelphia, on a bribery conviction that included acceptance of unreported cash gifts, the Legislature has decided to draw the line on cash gifts.

This is good news. Legislative work in Harrisburg is supposed to be a full-time job. Representatives don’t need extra cash from groups hoping to influence their work representing the people of Pennsylvania. To this end, the House State Government Committee has approved a new bill limiting gifts to public officials, including an outright prohibition on cash gifts.

The list of exceptions that have been added to the bill, however, is long. This includes gifts from family members or “gifts exchanged between public officials or public employees on a voluntary basis”; awards or prizes; food and drinks at public meetings; educational missions; and more.

Pennsylvanians have reason to be skeptical. State lawmakers have previously made (ahem) curious interpretations of other finance regulations and exceptions. For instance, it was recently reported that state Sens. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks, and Rich Alloway, R-Franklin, used more than $15,000 in campaign funds to pay for a trip to Europe that included a stop at Oktoberfest. The trip was described by one of the senators as a mix of government and campaign business.

What reason do voters have to trust that legislators will not attempt similar contortions of logic to explain away lavish gifts? Lawmakers are expected to act in the public interest. How do more than a dozen exceptions for legislative gift-giving serve that purpose?

Banning cash gifts is a good start, but the commonwealth must bulk up its woefully weak laws governing gifts and campaign spending. Reform is desperately needed, but exception-rich legislation is no reform at all. The Legislature should get real; voters are getting wise.

First Published: December 10, 2019, 10:41 a.m.