Think of your family, do you feel the need to hire an outside lobbying firm to talk to your brother or sister?
It appears that in the state government family that is what is happening and local legislators feel that it is time this spending come to a stop.
It all about influence and power and which agencies are going to get there way. You are the one who is paying for that power play.
A representative from Bucks County is introducing legislation, the Prohibited Contracts Act, to try and stop it. First term Harrisburg representative Patty Kim says state lobbyists have already come to see her.
“Yes they have, the paid lobbyist from paid organizations, to state run organizations, I've had everybody come.,: stated Rep. Patty Kim.
If you work here and need to talk about an issue with someone that works here, it would seem simple to walk across the street.
It appears instead that some state agencies hire outside lobbyists to talk to other state agencies for them.
“Because I am a Democratic representative and having all of the state agencies run by a Republican Governor there is a little bit of a conflict I think because they are obviously trying to push the Governor’s agenda,” Kim explained.
We stopped by the Governor's office to ask about reports that his office was spending $400,000 for lobbyists. The reply was that they “do not spend any funding on lobbying other agencies of state government or the state legislature.”
The Liquor Control Board told me they don't hire lobbyists, but the Turnpike did have a lobbyist back in 2007 when there was an effort to turn I-80 into a toll road.
This legislation may get the support of Representative Kim.
“I am about reform, I don't like when we use our taxpayer money irresponsibly and this is something where I think we might cut and save some money,” Representative Patty Kim.
“It's sort of a broker, they feel that they can't get what they need accomplished so they have to hire somebody who only represents them directly,” commented Bucks Representative Tina Davis.
How much money are we talking about?
“I don't know the number and that is part of the problem and that is why I have presented the bill,” Davis stated. “I do know that there are high figures, hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
The PA Higher Education Assistance Agency told me that had used lobbyists in 2007, but they don't now. The website OpenSecrets.org shows hundreds of thousands spent by the state on lobbying.
“I have a concern about this issue, that is why I put out a detailed government reform plan during my campaign which included lobbying reform and this should be part of it,” commented Democratic Senator Rob Teplitz.
I received information that the Department of Environmental Protection is one of the state agencies with lobbyists. Late this afternoon they told us they have a legislative affairs staff, but do not hire outside contractors.
It's not just lobbying here in Harrisburg; the State of PA hires a lobbyist to advocate for the State in Washington D.C. That contact costs the state $250,000.
It appears that in the state government family that is what is happening and local legislators feel that it is time this spending come to a stop.
It all about influence and power and which agencies are going to get there way. You are the one who is paying for that power play.
A representative from Bucks County is introducing legislation, the Prohibited Contracts Act, to try and stop it. First term Harrisburg representative Patty Kim says state lobbyists have already come to see her.
“Yes they have, the paid lobbyist from paid organizations, to state run organizations, I've had everybody come.,: stated Rep. Patty Kim.
If you work here and need to talk about an issue with someone that works here, it would seem simple to walk across the street.
It appears instead that some state agencies hire outside lobbyists to talk to other state agencies for them.
“Because I am a Democratic representative and having all of the state agencies run by a Republican Governor there is a little bit of a conflict I think because they are obviously trying to push the Governor’s agenda,” Kim explained.
We stopped by the Governor's office to ask about reports that his office was spending $400,000 for lobbyists. The reply was that they “do not spend any funding on lobbying other agencies of state government or the state legislature.”
The Liquor Control Board told me they don't hire lobbyists, but the Turnpike did have a lobbyist back in 2007 when there was an effort to turn I-80 into a toll road.
This legislation may get the support of Representative Kim.
“I am about reform, I don't like when we use our taxpayer money irresponsibly and this is something where I think we might cut and save some money,” Representative Patty Kim.
“It's sort of a broker, they feel that they can't get what they need accomplished so they have to hire somebody who only represents them directly,” commented Bucks Representative Tina Davis.
How much money are we talking about?
“I don't know the number and that is part of the problem and that is why I have presented the bill,” Davis stated. “I do know that there are high figures, hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
The PA Higher Education Assistance Agency told me that had used lobbyists in 2007, but they don't now. The website OpenSecrets.org shows hundreds of thousands spent by the state on lobbying.
“I have a concern about this issue, that is why I put out a detailed government reform plan during my campaign which included lobbying reform and this should be part of it,” commented Democratic Senator Rob Teplitz.
I received information that the Department of Environmental Protection is one of the state agencies with lobbyists. Late this afternoon they told us they have a legislative affairs staff, but do not hire outside contractors.
It's not just lobbying here in Harrisburg; the State of PA hires a lobbyist to advocate for the State in Washington D.C. That contact costs the state $250,000.