Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

"Today, state government is significantly more open than it was just two years ago when we began the process of rewriting Pennsylvania's Open Records Law. The 10 bills we are announcing today will continue that progress."

-- Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) joining Republican senators to announce a 10-bill reform package Wednesday.

Preview

HEARING ON TRANSPORTATION PROJECT DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS, FEDERAL STIMULUS

The Senate Transportation Committee, chaired by Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery), on Tuesday will hold the first of several public hearings and meetings designed to ensure that transportation improvement projects are delivered in less time and with less disruption to the traveling public.

Participants will also discuss the federal stimulus package and its time-sensitive restrictions to determine if the commonwealth will be effective in achieving the two-pronged goal of the funding: to improve infrastructure and to increase job creation through economic activity.

The committee will hear from state Department of Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler and Robert Latham, executive vice president of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors.

JUDICIARY HEARING ON PAROLE AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), will hold a public hearing Tuesday to discuss a report issued in the wake of several incidents in which state parolees committed violent crimes – including at least four murders.

Professor John Goldkamp of Temple University, who prepared a report for the governor with recommendations, will testify. Following his presentation, Catherine McVey, Chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, and Jeffrey Beard, Secretary of Corrections, will explain how their agencies are implementing Professor Goldkamp’s recommendations.

EDUCATION HEARING FOCUSES ON IMPROVING SCHOOL SAFETY

The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), will hold a public hearing Wednesday on improving safety in Pennsylvania schools.

The hearing will be used to gather information on Senate Bill 55, strengthening and expanding criminal background checks for public school employees, and Senate Bill 56, expanding the duties of the Office for Safe Schools.

Review

SENATE REPUBLICANS UNVEIL 10-BILL GOVERNMENT REFORM PACKAGE

Members of the Senate Republican Caucus announced Wednesday the introduction of a 10-bill package of government reforms intended to continue changing the culture of state government by increasing accountability and transparency.

Among the bills introduced are measures to change how consulting contracts are awarded, to increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law which requires public business to be done at open meetings, to ban bonus payments for state employees, and to eliminate lame-duck legislative sessions.

Nine of the 10 bills in the package passed the Senate last session with strong bipartisan support.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said: "As we begin a new legislative session, which brings with it new challenges, it is imperative that we continue to build on the positive work we have already begun. Passage of the reform measures being unveiled today is essential to creating a state government which is open and accountable to the people we have taken an oath to serve."

For a list of reform bills, please see In the Spotlight, below. For a list of enacted reform measures, please see Fast Facts, below.

- Press Conference (26 minutes)

- Senator Scarnati

- Senator Pileggi

- Senator Orie

- Senator Browne

- Senator Corman

- Senator Eichelberger

- Senator Folmer

- Senator Smucker

- Senator Ward

SEN. WHITE'S STATEMENT ON HIGHMARK-IBC'S MERGER PROPOSAL WITHDRAWAL

Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Don White (R-Indiana) issued a statement in response to the announcement by Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) of their decision to withdraw the companies' application to merge. The following is an excerpt:

"For almost two years the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee actively reviewed the merger proposal and received scant information and testimony proving the merger between Highmark and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) would have substantially benefited the citizens of Pennsylvania.

"In fact, by a bipartisan vote of 10-4 the committee concluded the preponderance of testimony and facts presented over the last two years showed the merger would have substantial and serious negative consequences on both the availability and affordability of health care insurance for consumers across Pennsylvania.

"The decision by Highmark and IBC to pull the plug on the merger proposal clearly demonstrates the review process established by the legislature worked and state oversight was essential. The nearly two-year vetting process undertaken by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee brought essential transparency to the process and – unlike the expeditious federal review – was well above a shallow review and simple rubber stamp.

"While we close this chapter, there is still much work to be done to improve the health insurance marketplace and health care in general in Pennsylvania. Those conditions are still far from optimum and the withdrawal of this proposed merger has only kept it from getting worse. The long-term goal of the General Assembly must be to establish and foster an environment which encourages other insurers to enter the marketplace and provide real choice to consumers. This is my top legislative goal during the 2009-10 Session."

In the Spotlight

Senate Bill 101, sponsored by Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster), to increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law. “This Sunshine bill is aimed at public officials who intentionally make decisions in a way that avoids the requirements for public scrutiny. Setting out more serious penalties should discourage illegal secret meetings and encourage enforcement actions when violations occur.”

Senate Bill 102, sponsored by Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), to reform the procurement of consulting contracts. “The Pennsylvania General Assembly should do all it can to eliminate the appearance of impropriety in regards to ‘Pay-to-Play’ in commonwealth government. This can be done by creating an open bid process and providing for transparency in regard to who is receiving state contracts and their political contributions.”

Senate Bill 103, sponsored by Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), to prohibit bonuses for commonwealth employees. “The people of Pennsylvania have seen the abuses from not having this law on the books. It would be irresponsible for the legislature to not fix this problem after seeing the evidence from the ‘Bonusgate’ scandal.”

Senate Bill 104, sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), to increase accountability related to the use of state-owned vehicles. Senator Folmer is also the sponsor of Senate Bill 109, the Taxpayer-Funded Advertising Transparency Act. “While some might say that the reforms that I am sponsoring are not significant, I would argue that each is like the fingers of a hand. Individually, the impact might be limited, but collectively, they are like a fist that can pack a lot of wallop.”

Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), to create a searchable online budget database. “With the actions of state government segregated into many independent departments and agencies, it is currently very difficult for a Pennsylvania taxpayer to effectively monitor the spending practices of state government. However, with the use of technology we can significantly improve this process and promote greater transparency in the affairs of the commonwealth.”

Senate Bill 106, a constitutional amendment sponsored by Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), to eliminate sine die legislative sessions. “Eliminating the sine die sessions, or 'lame duck' sessions, is a key component to open government and reform. These sessions too often provide opportunities for outgoing legislators to make votes without being accountable to Pennsylvanians.”

Senate Bill 107, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), to post government salary information online. “This is part of our ongoing drive to make all three branches of state government more open and accessible. Giving the public the ability to easily review how their money is spent makes good sense.”

Senate Bill 108, sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), to change the process for filling a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor. “Currently, due to the unfortunate passing of Catherine Baker Knoll, we have a situation where we have a Governor and Lieutenant Governor from different parties. While this bill is a constitutional amendment and will not impact the current situation, it is my sincere belief that the Lieutenant Governor is a part of the Administration and needs to be a willing, working partner of the sitting Governor.”

Senate Bill 110, sponsored by Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster), to improve access to, and expand the information contained in, state plane logs. “When there are specific and thorough record-keeping requirements in place, and the media and the public have access to those records, that should curtail questionable or excessive uses of the state aircraft.

Fast Facts

REFORM MEASURES SUCCESSFULLY ENACTED

Act 3 of 2008 makes dramatic changes to Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law. For state agencies and local agencies, it reverses the presumption of access to records and puts the burden of proof on a government agency denying access to a record.
It also requires the state Treasury Department to post state contracts of $5,000 or more -- or detailed summaries -- on the Internet for public review and created an independent Office of Open Records that will hear appeals regarding access to records of commonwealth agencies and local agencies.
Act 30 of 2007 was in response to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that partly reinstated a pay raise repealed by legislators. It eliminated the tie-in between federal judicial salaries and those of Commonwealth judges.
Session is now limited to the hours between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. The Senate is required to wait at least six hours before voting on an amended bill or a conference committee report, and amendments are posted to the Internet before being offered on the Senate floor.
All roll call votes are posted on the Internet no later than 24 hours after a vote and committee votes are also posted within 24 hours of the vote.