Taxpayers footing lawyers' bills to protect government officials in Gosnell case

From an editorial in the Delaware County Daily Times on the investigation into how state health officials allowed abortionist Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic to stay open so long without inspection, we learn that the apathetic government officials who allowed the clinic to go stay open have lawyered up. And Pennsylvania taxpayers are footing the bill.

The Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, led by Sen. Robert Tomlinson, R-Bucks, will scrutinize the State Department, which issues medical licenses, and the Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland, will look at the Health Department. The two senators vowed Tuesday to subpoena officials if necessary.

Philadelphia prosecutors told the Senate Tuesday state officials are not cooperating or providing information. And, the prosecutors said, taxpayers are being billed by private lawyers hired to represent the current or former Pennsylvania employees mentioned in the grand jury report. The bill thus far is $116,000, they said.

New Gov. Tom Corbett, commenting on the case for the first time Tuesday, said he was unaware of the legal bills. He said he might have more to say on the matter later.

Let’s hope it’s sooner. And let’s hope that Sens. Tomlinson and Vance leave no stone unturned in their investigation. The people of Pennsylvania deserve to know how the West Philadelphia abortion mill was allowed to operate, without supervision, for so long, and why. Horrors like that should never happen in a civilized world. The truth must be brought to light, and it must never happen again.