At the heart of the conflagration that has become a sting operation targeting members of the Pennsylvania House is this startling reality.
In Pennsylvania, land of giants, there is nothing illegal about pols accepting cash from lobbyists and others seeking their ear - if not their wallets - in Harrisburg.
That is allegedly what happened during a sting operation set up under now governor and then Attorney General Tom Corbett. His predecessor, Democrat Kathleen Kane, deep-sixed the probe, bringing no charges against any of the pols while maintaining the entire operation was fatally flawed.
Beyond all the unpleasantries of the probe lies the real heart of the problem. So long as the pols report any gifts of more than $250 on their financial disclosure forms, they did absolutely nothing wrong.
Of course, in this case, it is alleged they did not list any of the cash on their financial disclosure forms after being handed envelopes stuffed with cash by an undercover informant.
There is no ban on what they can take and no cap.
All they have to do is report it, and indicate that there was no expectation of any action in exchange for the gifts - the inimitable quid pro quo.
That's it.
Is this any way to run a state?
Some pols are beginning to think twice of this tawdry state of affairs.
Yesterday two Republican senators and one Democrat rolled out plans to place an absolute ban on legislators accepting cash gifts from lobbyists, principals, consultants and others seeking to influence the legislative process.
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, and Lloyd Smucker, R-13, are behind the push.
Locally, state Sen. Daylin Leach, D-13, who represents parts of Haverford here in Delco, is set to roll out a similar bill.
Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, the Senate Majority leader, is on record saying he favors such a total ban.
Good for him.
Harrisburg can't ban this plan fast enough.
The state has been a cesspool of this kind of greasing palms and "pay to play" far too long.
The tawdry chapter that has ensnared a phalanx of local pols - as well as the attorney general - only underscores the need for such a ban.
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