PA Governor Josh Shapiro bars gifts from lobbyists, requires ethics training

[FakeNoose]

(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2023/01/20/shapiro-bars-gifts-lobbyists-requiring-officials-complete-training-ethics-pledges/stories/202301200094

HARRISBURG – Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday announced that he’s signed an executive order barring staff under his jurisdiction from accepting gifts from lobbyists and requiring that state officials sign an ethics pledge and complete ethics training. The new policy replaces the total gift ban that had been in place for officials in the administration of Mr. Shapiro’s predecessor Tom Wolf.

Eric Fillman, a former chief integrity office in the Office of Attorney General and chief counsel for the House Ethics Committee, will lead the ethics training. Mr. Fillman said the new gift ban is intended to provide a degree of reasonableness that will ensure that lobbyists can’t use gifts to gain undue influence while at the same time ensuring that state officials can accept modest gifts from members of the community.

“No one is going to feel bribed if they accept a bottle of water,” he said.

Mr. Shapiro provided another example, noting that a total gift ban would bar the secretary of education from accepting a T-shirt from students during a school visit. Barring state officials from accepting a gift from students would serve little purpose.

- more at link -

It was already a policy under Gov. Tom Wolf, but now it's an executive order.

[msfiddlestix]

1. Wekk Done, good news. thnx.. it is sad that it has to become a executive order

but good to know,, it's on the books. solid

[SheltieLover]

2. Excellent! 👏👏👏👏

[Faux pas]

3. Yes Please!

[2naSalit]

4. Good move!