If state Auditor General Jack Wagner, a Democrat, had a keen eye for his duty, he would have ordered an audit of the use of state aircraft with particular attention to the flights boarded by a gaming lobbyist.
Mr. Wagner did not order the audit. Instead, it is the campaign of GOP gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann calling for a photon of transparency in what may be the least-transparent state government in the nation.
Gov. Ed Rendell's office defended the round trip between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh flown by Rendell Chief of Staff John Estey and lobbyist Richard Gmerek (who later paid for the trips) as important to state business. Indeed, it comes as no shock that a lobbyist would be considered essential to the monkey business of the Harrisburg gang.
Rendell's office said the trips involved state-subsidized capital projects but gave only one detail -- gambling was not discussed. Wonder if a fly on the cabin wall would have heard differently.
Mr. Swann says, in essence, that the governor's word that the flights were on the up and up isn't good enough.
Long ago, Rendell said the state ought to sell the planes to save money; that hasn't happened. Heck, neither has property tax reform. Seems Swann's point about the governor's lack of credibility has merit.
Put party affiliation aside, Mr. Wagner. You've waited too long. Order the audit before the election.
