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For Immediate
Release
2/05/07
CONTACT:
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
Senate GOP Pushes Cut in Legislative Surplus; Excess
Funds Directed to Property Tax Relief
AUDIO
- Scarnati
AUDIO- Pileggi
HARRISBURG --
Senate
President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader
Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) today announced a plan to slash legislative
reserves by at least $75 million.
The Republican leaders proposed using the
savings to bolster the Property Tax Relief Fund and will introduce a
bill to do so in the coming weeks.
A recent audit of legislative accounts found
that as of June 30, 2006, legislative reserves had grown to about $215
million, according to Legislative Audit Advisory Commission.
"We've examined the recent audit of the
legislature's accounts and believe that the reserve levels have grown
too large," Scarnati said. "Some reserve funds are necessary so that the
General Assembly can continue to operate in the event of a protracted
budget process, but we should cut the surplus and dedicate the excess
funds to property tax cuts."
"Cutting the legislative surplus to a
reasonable level is the right thing to do," said Pileggi. "Our caucus
believes in fiscal restraint, and that includes how we manage our own
accounts."
The Senate Republican leaders also called
for more thorough audits of legislative accounts going forward.
This announcement comes after a broad range
of legislative reforms already adopted by the Senate Republican Caucus
in recent months, including:
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Posting amendments to the Internet
before they can be offered on the Senate floor.
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Waiting at least six hours before voting
on an amended bill or a conference committee report.
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Posting all roll call votes on the
Internet immediately after the votes, always within 24 hours.
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Posting committee votes on bills,
resolutions and executive nominations on the Internet within 48
hours.
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Posting the Senate's Legislative Journal
-- which includes the full text of all floor debates -- on the
Internet upon Senate approval of the Journal or within 45 days,
whichever is earlier.
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Preparing an updated fiscal note if a
bill is amended after consideration by the Senate Appropriations
Committee, if the amendment has a fiscal impact.
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Ending the practice of giving bonuses to
legislative staffers.
Other major government reform initiatives
announced by Senate Republicans include:
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Strengthening the state's Open Records
Law by including the legislature's financial records, judicial
financial records, PHEAA and state-related universities; allowing
requests to be submitted by email; and making other improvements.
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Broadcasting Senate sessions via
streaming video feeds over the Internet.
"Senate Republicans are leading the way on
government reform issues in Pennsylvania," said Scarnati. "And we know
that our job is not finished – we will press forward on reforms of all
three branches of state government."
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