Should Orie resign?

State Senator Jane Orie has long been a force to be reckoned with in Harrisburg but her voice has been noticeably muted throughout the ongoing scandal. She seems to have faded from the forefront of state and local matters entirely. It’s fair to say she’s simply chosen to maintain a lower profile while working just as hard as ever for her constituents, but we can’t ignore the possibility that her personal concerns are impacting her ability to fulfill her duties.

She hasn’t been found guilty of any wrongdoing, yet the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office is offering a varied array of serious charges against her. Orie shouldn’t be condemned based on allegations, but the hoopla surrounding the case seems sufficient to impact her work. Regardless of the eventual outcome of the cases against her, Orie needs to prove to the public that she is in a position to continue in her current capacity without question. Her office needs to show us that her attendance is still good, that she’s introducing relevant legislation and still working hard for our state. If they can’t do so, then she needs to step aside and relegate the responsibilities of her office to someone who can give it the attention it deserves.

There is a question of whether the charges are warranted or merely a political vendetta. Voters will have to wait for the rest of the evidence to be presented and decide for ourselves if she is guilty, victimized by a political machine or perhaps a little of both. Until then, Orie needs to show constituents that her personal problems aren’t impacting her job performance and if she is unable to do so, should resign so that constituents can be properly represented.