Senate GOP reintroduce reform measures
January 22, 2009 State government | SB 101 Sunshine Act Amendment | SB 107 Salary Information Act | SB 105 Taxpayer Transparency Act
By Laura Olson
Staff reporter Capitolwire
HARRISBURG (Jan. 22) – Senate Republicans reintroduced a package of 10 reform bills Wednesday, 9 of which were approved by the Senate but not the House last session.
The bills were re-started, GOP senators said, in an effort to continue discussion on legislative reform.
All but one of the bills were approved by the Senate last session. The other, which would create an online budget database, passed out of the Senate Finance Committee. But Senate Republicans say the new House leadership provides an opportunity for a fresh look at the legislation.
Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, said while the overall focus is on the commonwealth’s fiscal concerns, continuing to work on reform also will be important.
“Restoring the public’s trust and interest in the state Legislature is one of the highest priorities and we need to continue with that in mind as we move through this legislative session,” Scarnati said.
The package builds upon the reform work of last session that resulted in the new Open Records law, said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware. Senate Republicans hope to have a vote on the bills by the end of March.
“You will hear the theme of government accountability from our caucus all session long,” Pileggi said.
Among the proposals are bills to increase the penalty for holding closed meetings that violate the Sunshine Law [SB 101], to expand the disclosure requirements of use of state-owned planes, and to boost regulations on the use of state-owned vehicles.
Others would create an online budget database [SB 105], post government salaries online [SB 107], ban bonuses for state employees, end lame-duck sessions, allow the governor to select a new lieutenant governor with Senate consent, and mark any taxpayer-funded advisory with a disclosure statement.
“These are simple, common-sense moves for members of the public to track how their money is being spent,” Pileggi said.
Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny, would ban no-bid consulting contracts. The bill passed the Senate unanimously last year but stalled in the House committee.
During the past six years, Orie said, more than $1 billion was awarded in no-bid contracts. Under Orie’s proposal, procurement contracts must use the qualified lowest bid, and those who receive contracts will be required to report campaign contributions.
“This appearance of impropriety in Pennsylvania has to stop,” Orie said.
Senators pressed House members on these reform issues during the fall after the Senate passed its versions of the bills.
House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, said he will have to see what bills his members bring to him, but that he is interested in looking at reform legislation.
“We’ve already begun a process of reform within our own caucus,” Eachus said, referring to his ban of House Democrats while his staff does an internal review.
Senate members also will see a variety of legislation coming over from the House for consideration, Eachus said.
“We’re going to have an organized discussion with the members of the Democratic caucus to allow us to get an agenda on not just reform, but on a variety of topics,” he said. “It’s hard to know what comes with each legislative session, but I’m hopeful that what we can do is reach some compromises.”
But Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell, said if the senators truly are interested in reform, they would cut their expenses by 4.25 percent in response to the governor’s request.
As for a blanket ban of no-bid contracts, Ardo said that poses a challenge for specialized projects that may have only one qualified organization.
“Professional contracts can’t be assigned to the lowest bidder – it has to go to the most qualified person,” he said. “Would you pick a surgeon to operate on you just because he was the lowest bidder?”
Government-reform activist Gene Stilp said the package is a good start, but cautioned that other reforms also are needed, such as eliminating incumbent protections and auditing legislative expenses. And any reforms should not overshadow the larger issues at hand, he said.
“It’s nice to have a reform package, but they have to keep their eyes on what is happening with the $2 billion shortfall,” Stilp said. “It has to be done in tandem with the economy measures.”
Pileggi said members of the Senate Republican caucus have ideas for other areas of reform, such the selection of judges or redistricting, and that members in the other three caucuses also have ideas for discussion.
“It’s just the start,” he said.
HARRISBURG (Jan. 22) – Senate Republicans reintroduced a package of 10 reform bills Wednesday, 9 of which were approved by the Senate but not the House last session.
The bills were re-started, GOP senators said, in an effort to continue discussion on legislative reform.
All but one of the bills were approved by the Senate last session. The other, which would create an online budget database, passed out of the Senate Finance Committee. But Senate Republicans say the new House leadership provides an opportunity for a fresh look at the legislation.
Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, said while the overall focus is on the commonwealth’s fiscal concerns, continuing to work on reform also will be important.
“Restoring the public’s trust and interest in the state Legislature is one of the highest priorities and we need to continue with that in mind as we move through this legislative session,” Scarnati said.
The package builds upon the reform work of last session that resulted in the new Open Records law, said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware. Senate Republicans hope to have a vote on the bills by the end of March.
“You will hear the theme of government accountability from our caucus all session long,” Pileggi said.
Among the proposals are bills to increase the penalty for holding closed meetings that violate the Sunshine Law [SB 101], to expand the disclosure requirements of use of state-owned planes, and to boost regulations on the use of state-owned vehicles.
Others would create an online budget database [SB 105], post government salaries online [SB 107], ban bonuses for state employees, end lame-duck sessions, allow the governor to select a new lieutenant governor with Senate consent, and mark any taxpayer-funded advisory with a disclosure statement.
“These are simple, common-sense moves for members of the public to track how their money is being spent,” Pileggi said.
Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny, would ban no-bid consulting contracts. The bill passed the Senate unanimously last year but stalled in the House committee.
During the past six years, Orie said, more than $1 billion was awarded in no-bid contracts. Under Orie’s proposal, procurement contracts must use the qualified lowest bid, and those who receive contracts will be required to report campaign contributions.
“This appearance of impropriety in Pennsylvania has to stop,” Orie said.
Senators pressed House members on these reform issues during the fall after the Senate passed its versions of the bills.
House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, said he will have to see what bills his members bring to him, but that he is interested in looking at reform legislation.
“We’ve already begun a process of reform within our own caucus,” Eachus said, referring to his ban of House Democrats while his staff does an internal review.
Senate members also will see a variety of legislation coming over from the House for consideration, Eachus said.
“We’re going to have an organized discussion with the members of the Democratic caucus to allow us to get an agenda on not just reform, but on a variety of topics,” he said. “It’s hard to know what comes with each legislative session, but I’m hopeful that what we can do is reach some compromises.”
But Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell, said if the senators truly are interested in reform, they would cut their expenses by 4.25 percent in response to the governor’s request.
As for a blanket ban of no-bid contracts, Ardo said that poses a challenge for specialized projects that may have only one qualified organization.
“Professional contracts can’t be assigned to the lowest bidder – it has to go to the most qualified person,” he said. “Would you pick a surgeon to operate on you just because he was the lowest bidder?”
Government-reform activist Gene Stilp said the package is a good start, but cautioned that other reforms also are needed, such as eliminating incumbent protections and auditing legislative expenses. And any reforms should not overshadow the larger issues at hand, he said.
“It’s nice to have a reform package, but they have to keep their eyes on what is happening with the $2 billion shortfall,” Stilp said. “It has to be done in tandem with the economy measures.”
Pileggi said members of the Senate Republican caucus have ideas for other areas of reform, such the selection of judges or redistricting, and that members in the other three caucuses also have ideas for discussion.
“It’s just the start,” he said.
