Editorial: Why would Pennsylvania elections need foreign money?

The state Legislature is open to money from almost everywhere.

For years, people have pointed out the lack of real restrictions on gifts from lobbyists. Lawmakers tend to listen sagely, nod and promise to consider a gift ban. And that’s as far as it goes.

Actually crack down on things such as trips to Europe or vacations to a rodeo in Wyoming? Don’t be silly. Pay no attention to the lobbyist behind the curtain.

Those examples are real trips state leaders took. They were paid for by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and gaming company Pace-O-Matic, both in the summer of 2022. They were noted and criticized, and no one did anything because, while these were glaring examples, they certainly weren’t unusual. In the year before, lobbyists spent $1.6 million on various gifts and trips for state officials and family members, according to a Spotlight PA investigation.

But those are for Pennsylvania entities and industries. Surely that’s where the line is drawn, right? Surely state leaders wouldn’t accept foreign money — especially after all of the concern expressed about other nations meddling in U.S. politics in recent years.

Pennsylvania has notoriously generous campaign finance laws. The money can flow like the Allegheny River, with little limit on where it can originate. That makes Pennsylvania campaigns open for anyone to support. The 2022 gubernatorial race, for example, was awash with out-of-state money — and quickly became the most expensive in state history.

But a bill in the Legislature would amend the Pennsylvania Election Code to create restrictions for foreign donations and penalties for accepting them. This would bring Pennsylvania elections in line with restrictions already imposed on federal campaigning.

On Monday, members of March on Harrisburg visited the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Hempfield. Ward’s spokesperson, Erica Clayton Wright, told PennLive.com there were “a number of outstanding issues that we needed answered” and agreed to discuss next steps.

Those steps should include moving the bill along in the process. History tells us anything the Legislature does with regard to limiting its members’ ability to accept money tends to wither and die for lack of attention.

A gift ban should be an absolute slam dunk — unless, for whatever reason, lawmakers want to preserve their ability to continue to receive gifts from lobbyists. Despite being asked year after year, it never gets done.

A bill outlawing foreign money in elections should be even easier, especially in a state where lawmakers repeatedly stress the importance of election integrity.

Now is their chance to show exactly what integrity means when it comes to elections in the Keystone State.