A Report Card on Reform

The Record of Lawmakers in 2007-2008

 

Sponsored by:

 

The Commonwealth Foundation, Matt Brouillette

Democracy Rising PA, Tim Potts

PA Citizens for Legislator Accountability, Richard Schirato

PA Clean Sweep, Russ Diamond

PA Council of Churches, Rev. Sandy Strauss

Rock the Capital, Eric Epstein

Taxpayers & Ratepayers United, Gene Stilp

Young Conservatives of PA, Chris Lilik



July 7, 2008

The Third Anniversary of the Pay Raise of 2005


A Report Card on Reform



At the beginning of this year, organizations advocating higher standards of public integrity called on Gov. Ed Rendell to convene a Special Session on Public Integrity. The special session did not happen, and the proposed agenda remains as urgent, unfinished business.

 

Although there is no consensus among the organizations on the merits of individual proposals, we agree that every aspect of public integrity in Pennsylvania needs improvement. We also agree that each issue deserves a fair and thorough hearing with maximum citizen participation and then a vote on the merits.

 

On the following pages are the issues, the most prominent bills dealing with those issues, and their fate. In summary, of 55 bills introduced:

 

Bills enacted

1

Resolutions adopted

1

Bills defeated

2

Bills passed in only one chamber

8

Bills pending

51

 

Note: The total does not add to 55 because the 8 bills that have passed only one chamber are included among the bills pending.

 

 

In addition, no bills were introduced pertaining to the following elements of the proposed agenda for the Special Session on Public Integrity:

 

Citizen Opportunity Period (COP)

  • Require a waiting period of at least 72 hours, preferably two weeks, between final amendment and final passage of all legislation in each chamber.

 

Legislator Voting Records

  • Create a database that allows citizens to search each legislator’s voting record by subject matter.

 

Audits

  • Require a forensic audit of all legislative accounts for the period 2002-03 through 2007-08.
  • Require the Auditor General to conduct biennial audits of the legislature with the results and supporting documents posted on the Commonwealth’s website.

 

Enforcement

  • Revise all laws regarding matters of public integrity to provide for the strongest enforcement practices in America.


Legislative Offices

  • Create regional district offices for legislators that are located for the convenience of constituents, that do not change when incumbents change, and that provide constituent services unrelated to incumbency.


There are six other issues that arguably affect public integrity for which lawmakers have made proposals:

 

  • Size of the legislature
  • Terms of legislators
  • Vacancies in the office of lieutenant governor
  • Polling at taxpayer expense
  • Bonuses for Commonwealth employees
  • Open meetings

 

They are listed at the end of this report. Of the six, one was defeated, and the rest are pending.

 

 

 

Lobbying

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 858

Orie

Prohibiting any state agency from using taxpayer dollars to hire private lobbyists to lobby a fellow state agency such as the General Assembly. (Turnpike Commission)

 

Introduced May 31, 2007

Reported as committed June 26, 2008

 

Awaiting floor vote

Not passed

SB 1488

Piccola

Prohibit all types of lobby-provided gifts except ceremonial awards/free admission or refreshments at a non-recreational event. More transparency in expense reporting from lobbyists.

 

Introduced June 16, 2008

Reported as amended June 17, 2008

 

Awaiting floor vote

Not passed

 

 

 

Lame-Duck Session

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 468

Regola

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution, providing for a limitation on the length of session. 

Introduced March 15, 2007

Reported as committed May 8, 2007

Re-referred to Appropriations May 15, 2007

Reported as committed June 27, 2007

Senate passage June 29, 2007 (41-8)

Referred to State Government July 3, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

HB 1652

Josephs

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution, providing for a limitation on the length of session. 

Referred to Rules June 28, 2007

Reported and re-referred to State Government July 13, 2007

Reported as committed April 8, 2008

Re-committed to Appropriations April 9, 2008

 

Now in Appropriations

Not passed

 

 

Re-Districting

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 69

O’Pake

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for the Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

Introduced February 9, 2007

Reported as committed May 8, 2007

Re-referred to Appropriations May 21, 2007

 

Now in Appropriations

Not passed

SB 346

Boscola

A Joint Resolution amending the Constitution, providing for a Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Bureau for the purpose of reapportioning and redistricting.

 

Introduced March 12, 2007

Reported as committed June 17, 2008

Awaiting floor vote

 

Now in Appropriations

Not passed

SB 464

Pileggi

An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for restrictions on alteration of boundaries of election districts.

Introduced March 28, 2008

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

HB 81

Leach

An Act proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for a legislative reapportionment commission to designate legislative districts for the General Assembly within this Commonwealth.

Introduced January 30, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

HB 84

Tangretti

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for a Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Bureau for the purpose of reapportioning and redistricting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Introduced January 30, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

HB 644

Stairs

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for legislative districts.

Introduced March 9, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

 

 

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

HB 867

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for legislative districts.

Introduced March 22, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

HB 2047

Curry

A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, deleting provisions relating to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission; and providing for the Reapportionment Commission and for its powers and duties.

November 21, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

HB 2420

Samuelson

A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for legislative and congressional reapportionment.

Introduced May 7, 2008

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

 

 

Open Records

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 1

Pileggi

An Act providing for access to public information, for a designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial review and for the Office of Open Records; imposing penalties; providing for reporting by State-related institutions; requiring the posting of certain State contract information on the Internet; and making related repeals.

Introduced March 29, 2007

Reported as amended October 29, 2007

Re-referred to Appropriations October 30, 2007

Reported as amended November 14, 2007

Passed as amended November 28, 2007 (48-1)

 

In the House

Referred to Appropriations December 3, 2007

Reported as committed December 3, 2007

Passed as amended December 12, 2007 (191-0)

 

In the Senate

Referred to Rules December 12, 2007

Reported as amended January 28, 2008

Recommitted to Rules January 29, 2008

Reported as amended January 29, 2008

Passed as amended January 30, 2008 (50-0)

 

In the House

Referred to Rules February 4, 2008

Reported as committed February 6, 2008

Passed as amended February 11, 2008 (199-0)

 

In the Senate

Referred to Rules February 12, 2008

Reported as committed February 12, 2008.

Final passage February 12, 2008 (50-0)

Enacted as Act 3 of 2008

 

 

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 765

Ferlo

An Act amending the act of June 21, 1957 (P.L.390, No.212), referred to as the Right-to-Know Law, further providing for access to certain records of Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth agencies; imposing requirements on Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth agencies regarding public access to certain records; and repealing certain provisions.

Introduced April 12, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

SB 729

Pileggi

An Act requiring the posting of certain governmental salary information on the Internet.

Introduced April 2, 2007

Reported as committed April 24, 2007

Re-referred to Appropriations April 25, 2007

Reported as committed April 30, 2007

Passed as amended May 22, 2007

 

In the House

Referred to State Government  June 5, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

SB 903

Orie

An Act amending Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for public access to contracts relating to consulting; and making a repeal related to form and legality review of consulting contracts.

Introduced June 1, 2007

Reported from State Government as amended October 2, 2007

Re-referred to Appropriations October 15, 2007

Reported as amended June 26, 2008

Passed as amended July 2, 2008 (50-0)

 

In the House

No action reported

 

Now in the House

Not passed

SB 914

Corman

An Act requiring the posting of certain State contract information on the Internet; and making a related repeal.

Introduced June 6, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 1015

Folmer

An Act requiring certain notification in certain advertising.

Introduced June 30, 2007

Reported as committed June 17, 2008

Passed as amended June 26, 2008 (49-0)

 

In the House

Referred to State Government  June 27, 2008

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

SB 1350

Browne

An Act providing for the establishment of a searchable budget database-driven Internet website detailing certain information concerning taxpayer investments.

Introduced May 12, 2008

 

Now in Appropriations

Not passed

HB 443

Mahoney

An Act requiring certain records of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions, authorities and agencies and other public bodies to be open for examination, inspection and copying for denial or refusal of access under certain circumstances, for final agency determinations, for appeals, for court costs and attorney fees, for penalties and for immunity; establishing the Pennsylvania Public Records Office and providing for its powers and duties; and making a related repeal.

Introduced March 13, 2007

Reported as amended October 18, 2007

Re-committed to Appropriations October 22, 2007

Reported as committed October 30, 2007

Re-committed to Appropriations December 3, 2007

 

Now in Appropriations

Not passed (moot)

HB 2072

Mahoney

An Act providing for access to public information, for a designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial review and for an Office of Open Records Clearinghouse; imposing penalties; providing for reporting by State-related institutions; requiring the posting of certain State contract information on the Internet; and making related repeals.

Introduced November 21, 2007

Reported as committed November 29, 2007

Re-committed to Appropriations November 29, 2007

 

Now in Appropriations

Not passed

(moot)

Judicial Selection

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 1064

Fumo

A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, changing and adding provisions relating to the selection of justices and judges.

Introduced September 11, 2007

 

Now in Judiciary

Not passed

SB 1324

Earll

A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, changing and adding provisions relating to selection of justices and judges.

Introduced April 9, 2008

 

Now in Judiciary

Not passed

HB 2488

Steil

A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, changing and adding provisions relating to selection of justices and judges.

Introduced May 2, 2008

 

Now in Judiciary

Not passed

 

 

 

Constitutional Convention

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 291

Ferlo

An Act providing for a constitutional convention with limited powers; providing for a referendum on the question; providing for the selection, nomination and election of delegates; defining the powers and duties of the convention; providing for its operation; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, officers of the General Assembly and county election boards; providing for a referendum on the convention's report; and making an appropriation.

Introduced March 9, 2007

 

Now in State Government

Not passed

 

Bill Number

Sponsor

Summary

History

Status

SB 1236

Piccola

An Act providing for a limited constitutional convention, for a referendum