Newspaper: 'Legislature imitates itself'

The Pennsylvania Legislature spending time debating whether to make the box turtle the official state reptile is so fitting because any progress in the most expensive, least effective legislature in the country comes at a slow pace, says The Pottstown Mercury.

From an editorial in today's edition questioning the Legislature's priorities:

These are apparently the priorities endorsed by the new House Democratic leadership, Speaker Keith McCall and Majority Leader Todd Eachus. All talk of reform in getting down to business and making the Legislature more accountable has not materialized into action under this leadership.

Truthfully, special designation of a turtle, as opposed to say a fast-moving snake or hopping frog in the amphibian class, actually makes sense.

The turtle could be the official mascot of the Legislature, symbolizing a slow moving body that accomplishes little over a long period of time.

The turtle could be the symbol for the Legislature's attitude toward tax reform: Move slowly, stop for long rests in between steps, and get nowhere.

Voters should expect and demand more from their elected representatives.

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