For Immediate Release
January 28, 2010
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Senate Rules Committee to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Rules of Ethical Conduct

HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, announced today that a public hearing on the proposed Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct will be held on Wednesday, February 3, at 1 p.m. 

The proposed Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct were introduced earlier this month by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Senator Pileggi, and Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow (D-22) as Senate Resolution 228.

"These proposed rules, which were developed in a bipartisan manner over the course of months, are designed to be easily understood by Senators, Senate staff, and the public," said Senator Pileggi. "But we want to make sure they are as clear and as effective as possible, which is why I have invited a number of ethics experts to testify at this public hearing."

Those scheduled to testify at the February 3 hearing include:

• Natalie Wood, Senior Policy Specialist for the Center for Ethics in Government at the National Conference of State Legislatures.
• Richard A. Stafford, Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy at the H. John Heinz III College, School of Public Policy and Management, of Carnegie Mellon University.
• John C. Sassaman, Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee.
• Barry Kauffman, Executive Director for Common Cause of Pennsylvania.
• John J. Contino, Executive Director for the State Ethics Commission of Pennsylvania.

"This is another step in regaining the public's trust in the operations of the Senate," said Senator Scarnati. "The public hearing will be a valuable resource in communicating to the citizens across the Commonwealth that we are serious about reforming the legislature."

"This is an important component in our continued effort to make certain that day-to-day Senate operations past muster under the highest levels of scrutiny," said Senator Mellow. "We want to make sure that the standards to which every Senate member and staffer will be held are outlined in a way that is clear, concise and unquestionable."

The proposed Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct include:

• No Senate employee may conduct any campaign activity on Senate work time.
• No campaign activity may be conducted in a Senate office or with Senate resources.
• The solicitation or receipt of campaign contributions on Senate work time or with Senate resources is prohibited.
• No Senate employee may serve as an officer on a campaign committee or a campaign finance committee on behalf of any Senator or Senate candidate.
• No Senate employee may be required to perform campaign activities or to make campaign contributions.
• Senate mailing lists and email lists may only be used for legislative purposes, and cannot be sold or given to any other entity, including campaigns.
• Senate employees who are responsible for taking or recommending official actions are required to file Financial Interest Statements with the Secretary of the Senate.
• No Senate-funded newsletter may be sent within 60 days of an election.

Annual training shall be provided to all senators and all Senate employees related to the Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct, the Ethics Act, and the Lobbyist Disclosure Act.

Sanctions for violations by an employee can range from a warning to termination of employment, depending on the circumstances. Sanctions for violations by a senator can range from a warning to requiring restitution and any other sanction provided for under the Pennsylvania Constitution.

If it is approved by the Senate Rules Committee, SR 228 would advance to the Senate floor for consideration by the full Senate.

Contacts:

Tim Nyquist (Sen. Scarnati)
 814-726-7201
Erik Arneson (Sen. Pileggi)
717-787-4712
Lisa Scullin (Sen. Mellow)
 717-787-6481