HARRISBURG -- Five days after members of his caucus were arrested on allegations they campaigned on state time and with state-funded computer equipment, House Republican Leader Sam Smith today announced a plan to prevent similar abuses in the future.

The plan -- called Pennsylvania's Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg, or PATH -- would prevent legislative staffers from campaigning during scheduled work hours and from using government equipment for campaign work at any time.

Both already are illegal under state law.

The guidelines also would prevent public officials from starting nonprofit organizations while in office. That measure apparently was inspired by grand jury revelations that former state Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, and former state Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, improperly used state grants given to organizations they founded in their districts.

Mr. Smith also is proposing an ethical code of conduct for government employees and contractors, a ban on awarding contracts to campaign contributors, audits of the General Assembly and whistleblower protections for employees who alert authorities to legal and ethical violations.

"Our plan would help stop corruption, address various ethical issues and bring accountability and better accessibility to state and local government," Mr. Smith said. "We need to earn back the people's trust and confidence."

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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