Interfaith Coalition Calls on Matt Bradford to Advance Gift Ban Legislation
On the morning of April 28, 2025, a powerful coalition of clergy, organizers, and everyday Pennsylvanians assembled at the office of PA State House Majority Leader Matt Bradford with a singular objective: to stir his moral conscience and urge a vote on critical pro-democracy, anti-corruption legislation — namely, the Gift Ban. They weren’t there for pleasantries. They were there to issue a moral summons.
Representing Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran, Church of God, Unitarian Universalist, and Baptist communities, this interfaith delegation gathered to demand a vote on a bill that would outlaw one of Harrisburg’s most brazen corruptions: legal bribery, dressed up in the language of “gifts.” The Gift Ban, which would bar legislators from accepting gifts from lobbyists and special interests, has languished in committee — precisely where leadership like Bradford can bury legislation without leaving fingerprints. 
This interfaith delegation came as a sacred Thorn: sharp, persistent, and rooted in love.
Their message was simple but urgent — it’s time to end legal bribery in Pennsylvania. The goal was to be the thorn in Bradford’s side that would nurture the good sense in his morality to call a vote on pro-democracy, anti-corruption bills including the Gift Ban. As House Majority Leader, Rep. Bradford has tremendous power over what bills do – or don’t– get called to a vote. The Gift Ban Bottleneck
Currently there are two Gift Ban bills sitting in the House State Government Committee Chamber, along with a historic bill that would ban multinational corporate secret spending in elections; Bradford has made zero commitments to advance a Gift Ban bill forward. Their message was clear: democracy cannot survive when state lawmakers can be bought with tickets, dinners, and private plane rides. And yet, in Pennsylvania, these gifts remain perfectly legal. As Majority Leader, Bradford holds enormous gatekeeping power: no bill hits the House floor without his blessing. And despite years of public pressure and multiple Gift Ban bills collecting dust in the State Government Committee, he has refused to take a stand.This Office Belongs to the People
Faith leaders and community members were permitted entry without issue, assembling peacefully. Rabbi Michael Pollack, executive director of MarchOnHarrisburg and Pennsylvania Poor People’s Campaign tri-chair asserted that if a representative’s name is on the door, the people have every right to be there. That office belongs to the public. It was understood that wherever the Majority Leader stamped his name, the faith leaders would assemble. 
Then came the music. Singing in solidarity, Leah Miller led the group with the powerful song, “We Rise” by Batya Levine. Everyone lifted their voices, certainly penetrating the closed office doors as they made joyful noise in the lobby.Following the musical demonstration, each faith leader took turns reading the letter that would be served to Bradford as a moral notice to act promptly. These varied, diverse, and uncompromising voices made it clear that there was no room in Pennsylvania for corruption by way of legal bribery. The People would not tolerate it, and it is his responsibility to follow the will of The People who elected him. It was made clear that though the faith leaders were led by grace in the years fighting for this bill, grace was soon to run out. “Law and politics are exactly what constituents are here to discuss.”
Closing out this demonstration, Miller again led the group in a song – a song about sending our prayers to God when in desperate need, and how God answers showing the expanse of His glory and compassion. Min Hameitzar from Psalm 118. Though staff accepted the letter, they told the group the office was “not a place for politics.” Pollack replied bluntly: “Law and politics are exactly what constituents are here to discuss.” The faith leaders vowed to continue to show up in defense of democracy, the Gift Ban, and for the people it becomes the law.