Scarnati: More Openness Needed

WARREN—State Senator Joe Scarnati of the 25th District wasted no time in initiating changes in the way business is done in the Senate of Pennsylvania. The newly-elected Interim President Pro Tempore made reform his top priority once taking this leadership position.

"I have stated time and time again, that there should be nothing to hide, and quite frankly, there will be nothing to hide," Scarnati adamantly stated. "Therefore rule changes to provide more openness, more accountability in the Senate will be acted upon the first day I am sworn in as President Pro Tempore.

Scarnati is expected to be sworn in on January 2, 2007 as the next President Pro Tempore in the Senate of Pennsylvania. Currently, he is the Interim President Pro Tempore.

"I have been in discussion with many members on both sides of the aisle to express my desire to implement changes in the operations of this body," Scarnati added. "I am proud to be a representative of the people and believe there needs to be further transparency in how business is conducted."

Scarnati mentioned that over the course of the past several weeks he, Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, and Minority Leader Robert Mellow have been working in a bi-partisan manner to make the following rule changes:

Senate session times will be limited to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Amendments will be posted on the internet before being offered on the Senate floor.
The Senate will wait at least six hours before voting on an amended bill or conference committee report.
All roll call votes will be posted on the internet as soon as possible after a vote, but always within 24 hours of a vote.
Committee votes on bills will be posted on the Internet within 48 hours of the vote.
The Senate's Legislative Journal -- which includes full text of all floor debates -- will be posted on the Internet upon Senate approval of the Journal, or within 45 days, whichever is earlier.
An updated fiscal note will be prepared if a bill is amended after consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee, if the amendment has a fiscal impact.

"These rule changes were necessary in beginning the restoration of public trust and confidence in the legislative process," Scarnati concluded. "The changes were negotiated in a cooperative, bi-partisan fashion, where thoughts of the members, public, and media were taken into consideration."