For Immediate Release
January 2, 2007
Contact: Tim Nyquist
(717) 787-7084
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PA Senate Implements Seven Reform Measures
Aimed at Opening Legislative Process to Public

The Pennsylvania Senate today opened the 2007-2008 legislative session by swearing in 15 Republican members, electing a new Senate President Pro Tempore, and adopting seven reform proposals designed to make the Senate process more open to the public.  In November elections, voters retained the 29-21 Senate Republican majority.

During floor remarks after his election to President Pro Tem, Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said the rules changes passed today were developed with bipartisan input and are the first step in a push for greater transparency in the Senate.

"This package is a result of a lot of bipartisan hard work where the thoughts of members, media, and most of all our constituents were taken into consideration," Scarnati said.  "All branches of government must have the courage and willingness to make the changes necessary for a more effective, more efficient, more accountable government."

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) called the rules changes "profound" and said they represent bipartisan, good government and will enable people to more easily track legislative actions and to determine how their Senator is representing them.

"In a time when the most pressing public concern is governmental reform, we will be judged by what we do to advance such reforms," Pileggi said.  "These rules changes are a constructive start that will have productive results, in legislation that is better crafted, better understood, and better received by Pennsylvanians."

Under the new rules:

• Session times will be limited to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.

• Amendments will be posted to the Internet before being offered on the Senate   floor.

• The Senate will wait at least six hours before voting on an amended bill or a 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 the 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.