Neuman: House Fails to Strike Blow Against ‘Pay to Play’ Culture

Pennsylvania will pay the price for the failure of the House today to approve critical reform amendments designed to end “pay to play” practices when state contracts are awarded, state Rep. Brandon Neuman said Monday.

“My amendments and others were crucial if we are serious about real reform, transparency and accountability when state contracts are awarded,” Neuman said. “They were the real medicine needed to combat the political kickbacks and favoritism influencing taxpayer-paid contracts emanating from Harrisburg. Sadly, they fell short."

Neuman said the vehicle for his good-government amendments was H.B. 201.

“My first amendment would have required all applicants for state contracts to disclose campaign contributions made within two years of submission of a proposal or bid,” Neuman said. “It also would have required all winning state contractors to update their campaign contribution disclosure statements annually, and require that all disclosure statements be posted on a public website.”

Neuman said taxpayers have a right to know whether those benefitting from taxpayer-funded contracts have gained undue influence through political donations.

“Despite the continued reports of political gifts and kickbacks being used to secure state contracts, the amendment’s defeat signals that the House is satisfied with the status quo,” Neuman said. “We fought for transparency but ran into weak excuses and wobbly logic.”

The amendment was defeated on a 91-107 vote, largely along party lines.

The second Neuman amendment, which also was defeated, would have prohibited the awarding of state contracts to anyone making a campaign contribution to local or state candidates, officials or their political committees within four years of seeking a contract.

“Pennsylvanians are sick of political kickbacks and favoritism,” Neuman said. “The need for a dynamic campaign contribution ban grows greater with each passing day. I only wish that day was today.”