Newspaper: Praise for GOP reform package

From the editorial page of The Pottstown Mercury:

ROSES to Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Sam Smith for proposing a comprehensive reform package that addresses many of the gaps that have allowed Pennsylvania government to become one of the most corrupt in the nation. Smith unveiled a 12-point government reform plan which he calls Pennsylvania's Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg (PATH) at a press conference last week. Among the proposals: No staff allowed to campaign during office hours; Public officials cannot start nonprofit organizations while in office; Dollar one reporting of campaign contributions, lobby disclosure and ethics statements; State grant accountability; Searchable database for all state spending; General Assembly audits by independent auditors; Banning public official from simultaneously working for a lobbyist firm; and Create an Ethical Code of Conduct for executive branch. These and other proposals are worthy of debate and enactment. Unfortunately, the Democrats control the state House and so far the new Democratic leadership has worked to dismantle existing reforms. So we're not optimistic about ending the "culture of corruption" in Harrisburg any time soon.