Grand Jury Recommendation Discussion

The Grand Jury investigation into the illicit use of taxpayer dollars by the State House's Democrat and Republican caucuses has shaken the confidence of Pennsylvanians in their state government and, now, resulted in a series of recommendations which can help restore that confidence. 

In the State Senate, which is not involved in the Grand Jury's investigation, there are different rules by which we operate – rules which already address many of the Grand Jury's concerns. 

As your Senator, I have long been committed to reform and was the prime sponsor of the state's new Open Records Law which has made government more transparent than ever before by making it easier for citizens to gather information. 

I have also worked to lead by example in Harrisburg.  I voted "no" to the legislative pay raise and led the effort to repeal it.  I contribute to the cost of my own health coverage.   

I am proud that we in the Senate addressed many government reform ideas early in 2009 – more than a year before the Grand Jury even released its report -- through a series of measures designed to both save taxpayers money and restore citizen faith in our government.   

In the Senate, we passed 9 government reforms bills, many of them passed through the Senate State Government Committee, of which I am Chairman. Sadly, these bills have failed to be brought to consideration in the House by its Democrat leaders.  The bipartisan legislation the Senate passed would have: 

• Prohibited salary bonuses for all state employees (SB. 103)
• Improved the way professional contracts are awarded by requiring an open "most qualified bidder" process (SB. 102)
• Strengthened the Sunshine Act governing open, public meetings (SB. 101)
• Created a public, searchable, online database of state expenses (SB.105)
• Increased accountability related to the use of state-owned vehicles (SB. 104)
• Eliminated the "Lame Duck" session (SB. 106)
• Posted government employee salary information on the internet (SB. 107)
• Required disclosure of all taxpayer-funded advertising (SB. 109)
• Established an independent commission to review the management of government operations (SB. 1161) 

While the Democratic leadership in the House won't join us in enacting common sense legislation to reform the government like those bills listed above, the Republican Senate has proposed the following through a bipartisan process in our chamber: 

• No Senate employee may conduct campaign activity on Senate work time
• No campaign activity may be conducted in a Senate office or with Senate resources
• No Senate employee may receive or solicit campaign contributions on Senate work time or with Senate resources
• No Senate employee may be required to perform non-work-related tasks including campaign activities
• Senate mailing lists and email lists may only be used for legislative purposes and cannot be sold or given to any other entity, including campaigns
• No Senate-funded newsletter may be sent within 60 days of an election
• Annual training will be provided to all Senators and Senate employees on Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct, the Ethics Act, and the Lobby Disclosure Act 

I believe, as the Judge overseeing the Grand Jury has said, that the legislature can "heal thyself" if the public joins with my legislative allies in the fight for reform.