The recently concluded legislative session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly was unlike any other in recent memory -- highlighted by voter anger that resulted in the election of more than 50 new members. The primary focus of public discontent was the way the Legislature conducts its business.
State Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, represents the 43rd district and chairs the Senate Democratic Caucus (costa@pasenate.com).
From late-night votes with little or no public discussion to the passage of the wrong versions of bills in the wee hours of the morning, it's clear that our General Assembly's wheels are off the track.
Beginning today, as our new two-year legislative session officially begins, we in the General Assembly have the opportunity to restore public trust and change the way we do business in Harrisburg. We must start by making the legislative process more open and accountable to the people of Pennsylvania.
Senate Democrats have introduced legislative reforms, designed in consultation with Common Cause, to achieve this goal. Among other things, they would:
Require a 72-hour waiting period before legislation can be voted in final form;
Stop last-minute legislation swapping by requiring a hearing if a bill is amended shortly before a vote is scheduled;
Force a 24-hour waiting period for action after a bill has been amended;
Adopt a 24-hour public notification period before any vote on an amendment;
Require a detailed fiscal analysis on any bill that would spend state or local government funds;
Permit 10 percent of the members of the House or Senate to force a hearing on the final version of a bill before it is put to a vote;
Post each legislator's vote on the Internet within 24 hours;
Post the legislative journal on the Internet within 20 days of each session day.
The Legislature must change the way it does business. The process now used, its structure and philosophy, are products of a bygone era. Systematic change must be our top priority and the first item of business in the next legislative session.
Senate Democrats strongly believe that our proposed reform measures should be adopted immediately as Senate rules. The Senate has done this before -- when it approved rules governing lobbyist disclosure in the absence of a similar statute. We can do the same thing with our proposed reform measures until a permanent statute is enacted.
Senate Democrats also will seek formal passage of our reform package in both houses of the General Assembly so that the new rules become permanent and apply to both the House and the Senate.
Beginning today, the first day of the 2007-2008 legislative session, reforms that provide for greater pubic input and accountability must be our first priority. We believe our package of reform measures would restore public trust in the Legislature and allow us to quickly pivot to substantive issues, bolstered by the confidence of the people we serve.
First Published: December 1, 2006, 5:00 a.m.
