Babette Josephs under siege

Blocking reform measures in a state crying out for good government will get you noticed.

State Rep. Babette Josephs, a Democrat who chairs the House State Government Committee, has bottled up important reform legislation for much of the year.

Her obstuctionist ways are getting noticed especially with the recent Bonusgate indictments.

The Philadelphia Inquirer details Josephs' troubles in an article titled, "Legislator beset by reform movement"

From the article by Christopher Wink:

Reform advocates, their cause rejuvenated with the indictments of 12 Harrisburg insiders in a recent bonus scandal, say Josephs is holding back a wave of change that could restore public faith in the legislature. Among the stalled bills are measures that would post all government staff salaries online and trim the size of the General Assembly.

One activist likened her to Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Greek mythology. Another dubbed her "a reform mortician."

"Her State Government Committee is where reform bills go to die," said Eric Epstein, coordinator of RockTheCapital.org, a Harrisburg public-interest group.

Read the full article at the newspaper's Web site.