Pennsylvania's cynically misnamed Right to Know Law presumes that government documents are
secret unless they meet one of the exceptions.
The state's open-records law is among the worst in the nation. The state Legislature exempts itself totally -- but sometimes will release information if it feels like it or is heavily pressured.
A grand jury is investigating whether $3.6 million in once-secret bonuses in 2005 and 2006 for legislative staffers were paid illegally for campaign work; the General Assembly had no legal duty to make the records available and certain members were counting on it.
In contrast, freshman Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette County, is sponsor of a bill that presumes government records are public unless they meet limited exceptions.
"We need to restore trust in state government," Mr. Mahoney says.
Yes. But a cautionary sidebar to Mahoney's laudable effort is House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese's purported support.
The Greene County Democrat was also one of the top dispensers of secret bonuses, which were jacked up remarkably in 2006, when Mr. DeWeese, a pay-jacker, faced a tough re-election.
So, best of luck to you, Mr. Mahoney, now that DeWeese is positioned to undercut you.
We have not felt the General Assembly, in the main, was interested in being trusted, only re-elected, and those are different things.
Votes can be bought. Trust must be earned.
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