A Spotlight PA article printed in Wednesday’s Mirror — “Gift ban, other changes stall in Pa. legislature” — should have been an eye-opener to residents of this region and residents beyond.

However, what the independent watchdog’s article did not do is devote “equal time” to some of the relevant issues that lawmakers are ignoring while they are pretending to be interested in passing measures targeting their generous perks — legislation that they know either House or Senate inaction will ultimately block.

Taxpayers do not fathom the amount of their dollars being spent on writing bills, staff time, lawmakers’ time, printing costs and other associated expenses for proposals that have virtually no shred of possibility of ever becoming law.

Meanwhile, some Pennsylvania residents are paying plenty because of what their elected representatives are not spending time to rectify. This editorial will focus on one particular issue later, but commonwealth residents can detail numerous others that they have encountered during their adult years.

In many cases, state residents do not realize what can be done and what corrective role is within their elected representatives’ ability, power and official responsibility.

But first, it is important to look at the gift ban and other changes that have remained stalled in the Pennsylvania General Assembly for years or decades because of lawmakers’ “don’t touch my perks” attitude.

Besides the gift-ban issue upon which Wednesday’s article focused, there are the issues of campaign finance, per diems, lobbying and rules of operation — rules of operation that stifle action even on some measures enjoying broad support.

As Spotlight PA pointed out, Pennsylvania is one of a minority of states with few or no restrictions on gifts lawmakers are permitted to receive from entities or interests seeking a particular action or inaction regarding an issue. Can gifts sway a vote? Absolutely.

On campaign finance, Pennsylvania has some of the most permissive, troubling laws in the country and, worse, there are no defined restrictions on how candidates can spend that money.

On per diems, lawmakers are reimbursed thousands of dollars each year for food and lodging tied to travel of more than 50 miles from their home district, including when they come to work at the Capitol to vote. That is in addition to their generous legislative salaries.

Regarding lobbying, a package of bills, almost certainly destined to fail, would prohibit lobbyists from also working as consultants for political campaigns. Allowing the practice exposes the reality that sometimes lawmakers do not have a mind of their own.

And, regarding the rules of operation that create an environment where lawmakers are afraid to stand up to leadership, lawmakers become impotent in terms of getting certain needed work accomplished.

Now, regarding that one item referred to above that lawmakers are distracted from addressing while they are busy pretending to be interested in reducing some of their perks:

The Keystone State is among the lowest in terms of auto insurance minimum liability. The $5,000 property damage minimum coverage required here has not increased since about the 1970s. Consider what minimal repair work and much hassle $5,000 can buy today for an innocent motorist victimized by someone with minimum coverage.

It is amazing state lawmakers have not noticed the relevance of the issue, which lawmakers in most other states have recognized.