Will the Senate Stand Up Against Corruption

March 13, 2026

HARRISBURG - Today, Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks) asked Senators on the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee preparing for the annual report by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) to be aware of troubling reports about the PGC's conduct and executive decisions that have raised yet another dark cloud of ethical issues with which the commission is beset.

This year the Democratic majority on the House Game and Fisheries Committee broke with years of established conduct regarding the Pennsylvania Game Commission's 2025 Annual Report to the committee by explicitly prohibiting members from asking a single question of the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) as it remains mired in news reports documenting the PGC's systematic abuse of women in the workplace.

Will Senators ask the PGC if the news reports are true? Will Senators who have long stood up for women being abused in a toxic workplace speak up now? On top of its abuse of employees, the PGC requested a waiver from the Senate to be exempt from Act 45, a law which requires the PGC to be open and transparent with its decisions, actions and energy exploration on lands owned by the sportsmen of Pennsylvania.

While it seems obvious that the agency which holds the record for an ethics violation in Pennsylvania due to hiding natural gas contracts and money would want to be exempt from transparency, it is clear that transparency is even more necessary in this agency's case. Here is a list of items I have uncovered which the PGC needs to answer for:

• Toxic Work Culture:
A recent article drew attention to the "toxic" and "retaliatory" work environment within the agency. Is evidence of this environment visible within PGC hiring data? Is the Commission having difficulty hiring and retaining employees within any specific department? Are you willing to say that this environment may be a product of Director Burhans' and now Director Smith's oversight? Do you expect
more past or current employees to speak out?

• Elk Applications:
The PGC's Elk tag drawing is not lawful or transparent. Their spokesman admitted to a reporter that "they are not following the letter of the law" because they hold the drawing in secret and not at the Elk Country Visitor Center as the law specifies. A recent report indicates that the lottery is conducted by an out of state corporation that is totally unaccountable to Pennsylvania hunters. Additionally, there is evidence of employees and their families getting multiple tags extending to a point beyond credulity. What is being done to bring the PGC into compliance with the law and to regain the trust of Pennsylvania hunters by making the elk license lottery transparent and accountable?

• Governor's Control?:
The PGC was established to be an "Independent Commission." But sometimes it seems the governor has significant control over the PGC's choices and actions. Things such as changing the PGC's website to go through the administration's control and as major as approving the PGC's budget. How is the PGC's relationship with the governor? The Governor's Advisory Council? Is the governor's office informed on PGC actions, regulations, and internal operations? Does the governor's office provide input on these matters?

• Commissioner Conduct and Conflict of Interest:
Concerns have been raised about discriminatory remarks shared by at least one Commissioner and conflicts of interest posed by another's concurrent employment with a non-government non-profit. Both remain on the Board of Commissioners and one was reappointed to a second term. What is being is being done to ensure that the PGC does not sacrifice or override the interests of
Pennsylvania sportsmen and women in favor of other interests Commissioners may have? How can Pennsylvania sportsmen and sportswomen be assured that the PGC respect them?

• Private Property Rights:
PGC and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officers are empowered to enter private property without a warrant under what is known as the "open fields doctrine". This seems at odds with the 4th amendment and is being challenged in several states. How do PGC officers operate under this allowance in a manner that respects private property and lawful citizens?

• Federal Pittman-Robertson Funding Compliance:
Pennsylvania is blessed to receive significant Pittman-Robertson funds from the federal government. Each year PGC uses this funding for 101 different things with the approval of United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Not all of the funded projects, positions, or real estate are successful or long-lasting. The question is - With what degree of frequency does PGC reach out to USFWS over the year to discuss changes or amendments to activities or projects that used federal Pittman-Robertson Funds? Do these conversations conclude with USFWS sending a letter expressing their understanding or support for PGC's decisions? Has USFWS ever not approved a PGC request? How are the records of PGC/USFWS funding, projects and audits collected and maintained?

• Raiding the Game Fund:
People within the legislature today learn that PGC is sitting on half a billion dollars, and their immediate reaction is to try and reappropriate sportsmen's funds for whatever unrelated project they can dream up. What would you say to a legislator that is considering an appropriation from the Game Fund towards a project outside of the scope of Title 34?

• Use of Gaming Revenue to Offset Land Ownership Costs:
The PGC benefits from Gaming Revenue that is used to pay a substantial portion of the payments in lieu of taxes owed for land owned by the PGC. Do you believe it is right for money that would otherwise go to property tax relief for Pennsylvania homeowners to instead pay a portion of the PGC's land ownership costs while the PGC maintains fund balances in the hundreds of millions of dollars?

On behalf of the sportsmen and the taxpayers, I am asking the Senate to step up and shine light on what House Democrats have worked to keep out of the public's eye and scrutiny.

It is incumbent for the oversight committees in the General Assembly to allow questions by the people's representatives in order to exercise some oversight of a state commission with many clouds over its head. Many questions are yet to be answered, but House Democrat leadership prevented any questions at all.

Representative David Maloney
130th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Charles Lardner
717.260.6161
[email protected]