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For Immediate
Release
5/11/11
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Senator Smucker Floor Remarks – SB 101 Concurrence
Serving the public interest does not always mean carving
out groundbreaking reform. As is demonstrated by
Senate Bill 101, strengthening
a significant and durable good government law is a substantial victory for
taxpayers.
Approval of a Sunshine penalties bill is the successful
conclusion of 25 years of effort by Sunshine advocates. A law that is a
foundational piece for open government finally has teeth put into it. The
Sunshine Law guarantees of public access to open meetings and the opportunity
for public comment become more meaningful.
The penalties provision is intended first and foremost to
improve compliance. It does this in part by providing incentive for prosecution
of intentional violations. An outrageous exercise in secret action in Lancaster
County triggered this legislation, and now we deliver a remedy that should work
to prevent similar offenses.
This will not change things in many jurisdictions, where
good faith compliance is the general practice. But there are yet too many
jurisdictions where Sunshine is treated as a casual suggestion, rather than an
ironclad requirement. The problem is real. This solution is practical,
reasonable, and responsible.
This is the third session in which the Senate passed such a
bill. Gib Armstrong started the push, and I picked up the cause. This time, a
bill has come back from the House in good shape. The difference this year is
that Representative Mike Vereb stepped up as a champion, pressing for quick
action and adding an amendment that affirms intentional violations of Sunshine
are serious offenses.
Credit goes too to various newspapers, for carrying
compelling editorials pushing this legislation and making sure the spotlight
never shifted away.
In recent days, we have cast a series of tough votes, with
substantial opposition no matter which way we decided matters. Here is one, at
last, that is clearly right, clearly understandable, clearly in the public
interest, and clearly a worthy accomplishment. Contact: David Atkinson
717-787-6535
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