PHILADELPHIA
Philly.com
October 22, 2018
By John Baer
In case you’re wondering (and you should be) how your legislature does, or doesn’t do, whatever it wants, allow me to refresh your memory.
It’s because its leaders maintain a culture to keep you out and keep them in.
It’s because this culture puts their interests and special interests ahead of public interests.
The latest example is the state Senate last week walking away from victims of child sex abuse.
This on the final scheduled voting day of the year.
This after a Pennsylvania grand jury in August released the nation’s most comprehensive report on decades of abuse and cover-up by Catholic clergy.
And this after that report triggered investigations in other states and a federal probe by the U.S. Department of Justice.
There are complexities in helping victims. Should private entities such as the Catholic Church be treated differently from public entities such as a school district? Does a compensation fund make more sense than open litigation?
But how did lawmakers resolve these complexities?
They walked away. Because they can.
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