GOP reform bills would post state spending on Web
January 22, 2009 State government | SB 101 Sunshine Act Amendment | SB 107 Salary Information Act | SB 105 Taxpayer Transparency Act
By Brad Bumsted
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review State Capitol Reporter
HARRISBURG -- Senate Republicans envision a searchable database on state spending to allow people to look up specific purchases by agencies and across state government.
GOP Sen. Pat Browne of Allentown, sponsor of a bill [SB 105] to provide such a tool on the state's Web page, said it would "bring more accountability to government spending."
Browne's bill is one of 10 reform measures the party highlighted Wednesday as goals this session. Other proposals include banning state government bonuses, ending post-election legislative sessions, curbing "pay-to-play" practices in state contracting, posting state salaries online [SB 105] and increasing penalties for violating the state's open meetings law. [SB 101]
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the same bills in the 2007-08 session but the legislation died in the House.
"Passage of the reform measures ... is essential to creating a state government which is open and accountable to the people we take an oath of office to serve," said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, who is lieutenant governor.
Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, said if senators "want to express their fealty to reform" they could return their portion of the Legislature's $200 million surplus to taxpayers and cut their expenses by 4.25 percent, as Rendell did in state agencies.
Senate Republicans have said they'll consider returning surplus money. And other Republicans challenged Rendell's numbers.
The $500 million Rendell cut amounts to a 1.64 percent budget reduction, said Stephen Miskin, a spokesman for the House GOP. It would require a $1.1 billion reduction in spending to hit 4.25 percent, Miskin said, adding that Republicans are more than willing to help Rendell shrink the budget.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, said there's hope for the reform legislation's passage because the House, controlled by Democrats, has different leaders.
Pileggi alluded to the possibility of playing political hardball, stalling bills House leaders want the Senate to pass, if necessary, in order to strike a deal on reform bills. Pileggi said he believes the House might take up some of the bills. "Again, starting early is the key," he said.
Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, wants an open bidding process she said would curb "pay-to-play" practices, where campaign donors often land big state contracts. The Rendell administration has awarded more than $1 billion of no-bid contracts since taking office.
Ardo said the bill would not ban no-bid contracts by the Legislature.
Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, said it's necessary to end so-called "lame duck" sessions after November elections because they are ripe periods for voting "state taxes, borrowing or pay raises." Her bill would seek a constitutional change. It would need to be approved in two sessions and then submitted to voters.
"This legislation gives voters a chance to weigh in on reform," Ward said.
HARRISBURG -- Senate Republicans envision a searchable database on state spending to allow people to look up specific purchases by agencies and across state government.
GOP Sen. Pat Browne of Allentown, sponsor of a bill [SB 105] to provide such a tool on the state's Web page, said it would "bring more accountability to government spending."
Browne's bill is one of 10 reform measures the party highlighted Wednesday as goals this session. Other proposals include banning state government bonuses, ending post-election legislative sessions, curbing "pay-to-play" practices in state contracting, posting state salaries online [SB 105] and increasing penalties for violating the state's open meetings law. [SB 101]
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the same bills in the 2007-08 session but the legislation died in the House.
"Passage of the reform measures ... is essential to creating a state government which is open and accountable to the people we take an oath of office to serve," said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, who is lieutenant governor.
Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, said if senators "want to express their fealty to reform" they could return their portion of the Legislature's $200 million surplus to taxpayers and cut their expenses by 4.25 percent, as Rendell did in state agencies.
Senate Republicans have said they'll consider returning surplus money. And other Republicans challenged Rendell's numbers.
The $500 million Rendell cut amounts to a 1.64 percent budget reduction, said Stephen Miskin, a spokesman for the House GOP. It would require a $1.1 billion reduction in spending to hit 4.25 percent, Miskin said, adding that Republicans are more than willing to help Rendell shrink the budget.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, said there's hope for the reform legislation's passage because the House, controlled by Democrats, has different leaders.
Pileggi alluded to the possibility of playing political hardball, stalling bills House leaders want the Senate to pass, if necessary, in order to strike a deal on reform bills. Pileggi said he believes the House might take up some of the bills. "Again, starting early is the key," he said.
Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, wants an open bidding process she said would curb "pay-to-play" practices, where campaign donors often land big state contracts. The Rendell administration has awarded more than $1 billion of no-bid contracts since taking office.
Ardo said the bill would not ban no-bid contracts by the Legislature.
Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, said it's necessary to end so-called "lame duck" sessions after November elections because they are ripe periods for voting "state taxes, borrowing or pay raises." Her bill would seek a constitutional change. It would need to be approved in two sessions and then submitted to voters.
"This legislation gives voters a chance to weigh in on reform," Ward said.
