HARRISBURG -- A state senator from Philadelphia is proposing changes to the state Constitution aimed at increasing openness in state government and helping citizens know what is going on.

State Sen. Vincent Fumo, a Democrat who's been in the Senate for nearly 30 years, said toay, "The time is overdue to halt 'sneak' legislation,'' where bills are introduced without notice in the middle of the night and then voted on without hearings or a full explanation.

One bill, to be introduced in January, would prevent legislation from passing the House or Senate unless it has been on the calendar for at least 72 hours. A pay-raise bill was approved without hearings or debate in the early morning of July 7, setting off a public furor that led to its repeal in mid-November.

Another change proposed by Mr. Fumo would require a public hearing on the final, amended version of any bill if demanded by at least 10 percent of the members of either chamber.

To amend the Constitution, the changes would have to be approved by the Legislature in both 2006 and 2007 and then approved by statewide voters in November 2007.

First Published: December 14, 2005, 5:00 a.m.