Incumbency Abuse // State Senate Republicans rightly seek to end service announcements that tout politicians

Paper: Patriot-News, The ( Harrisburg, PA)

Date: June 24, 2007

One of the not-so-subtle incumbent-protection practices often criticized but long tolerated is public service announcements by elected lawmakers. It is an inexpensive way for the legislator to get his or her mug on local television thousands of times or voice on the radio hundreds of times.

The state House spent $4.4 million to air members' public announcements during the 2005-06 legislative session. The state Senate, with a quarter of the members of the House, spent considerably less, about $47,000.

Earlier this year, House Republicans announced they were limiting the practice to three public service announcements per member, to be aired an average of 400 times.

But the state Senate is looking to end the practice entirely. Senate Republican spokesman Erik Arneson stated flatly: "It's an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds."

We could not agree more.

We commend Senate Republicans for leading the move to end the masquerade that lawmakers are actually performing a public service by making these announcements. The fact is that such announcements, no matter how worthy their message, can be just as well if not better performed by nonelected individuals.

These are dollars being spent in a frivolous, unnecessary manner. And this expense helps to make the Pennsylvania General Assembly the first or second -- depending on how you count it -- most expensive Legislature in the country.

Ending this practice is part of the broader legislative reform effort, one part of which requires abolishing the most blatant instances of lawmakers exploiting their incumbency to their own re-election advantage.

Taxpayer-funded newsletters sent out to residents of their district by representatives and senators is another needless exercise of incumbent power and spending.

And still another is a redistricting process in which lawmakers effectively choose their own voters by creating districts that give incumbents an advantage in political registration.

Legislatures, not unlike other centers of power, are disinclined to change their ways, particularly when it involves diminishing their own power and perks. But the 2006 election sent a powerful message that the citizens had had enough, a message that, by this and other small but important steps, lawmakers are demonstrating has been received.

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Author: Of the Patriot-News

Section: Editorial

Page: F04