Rep pleads guilty, resigns her seat

HARRISBURG — State Rep. Michelle Brownlee pleaded guilty Monday in a cash-for-favors investigation, the fourth elected official from Philadelphia to admit having broken the law in dealing with an informant who secretly recorded their exchanges.

Brownlee pleaded guilty in Dauphin County court to a single count of violating the state conflict-of-interest law, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and resigned her seat in the state House.

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, whose office prosecuted her, said what Brownlee did “darkens the stain of political corruption on the city of Philadelphia.”

Brownlee, 59, was accused of accepting $2,000 from an undercover informant posing as a lobbyist who was seeking to influence her votes on behalf of nonexistent clients. She had been charged in March with bribery, conflict of interest, conspiracy and failing to report the gift on her financial disclosure statements.

Background check law may be changed

HARRISBURG — The full state House is about to consider changes to a new state law that requires background checks for people who work with children, despite some concerns the legislation is being watered down.

The House Children and Youth Committee voted 24 to 2 on Monday in favor of a proposal designed to make the checks less of a burden so organizations don’t end up having to cut programs for children because of fewer volunteers.

The proposal limits the checks to those with direct contact with children who routinely interact with them. It’ll also make the checks apply for all types of work with children, so employees and volunteers don’t have to produce duplicate checks.