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For Immediate
Release
1/2/07
CONTACT:
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
PA Senate Implements Seven Reform Measures
Aimed at Opening Legislative Process to Public
HARRISBURG -- The
Pennsylvania Senate today opened the 2007-2008 legislative session by swearing
in 15 Republican members, electing a new Senate President Pro Tempore, and
adopting seven reform proposals designed to make the Senate process more open to
the public. In November elections, voters retained the 29-21 Senate Republican
majority.
During
floor remarks after his election to President Pro Tem, Senator Joe
Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said the rules changes passed today were
developed with bipartisan input and are the first step in a push for
greater transparency in the Senate.
"This
package is a result of a lot of bipartisan hard work where the thoughts
of members, media, and most of all our constituents were taken into
consideration," Scarnati said. "All branches of government must have
the courage and willingness to make the changes necessary for a more
effective, more efficient, more accountable government."
Senate
Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) called the rules changes
"profound" and said they represent bipartisan, good government and will
enable people to more easily track legislative actions and to determine
how their Senator is representing them.
"In a
time when the most pressing public concern is governmental reform, we
will be judged by what we do to advance such reforms," Pileggi said.
"These rules changes are a constructive start that will have productive
results, in legislation that is better crafted, better understood, and
better received by Pennsylvanians."
Under
the new rules:
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Session times will be limited to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
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Amendments will be posted to the Internet before being offered on
the Senate floor.
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The Senate will wait at least six hours before voting on an amended
bill or a conference committee report.
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All roll call votes will be posted on the Internet as soon as
possible after a vote, but always within 24 hours of a vote.
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Committee votes on bills will be posted on the Internet within 48
hours of the vote.
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The Senate's Legislative Journal -- which includes the full text of
all floor debates -- will be posted on the Internet upon Senate
approval of the Journal or within 45 days, whichever is earlier.
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An
updated fiscal note will be prepared if a bill is amended after
consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee, if the
amendment has a fiscal impact.
Scarnati
Pileggi's Written Remarks on Senate Rule Changes
Rafferty
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