FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 27, 2006
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Rules Reforms First on Senate Agenda

(Harrisburg, PA) – The Pennsylvania Senate next week is expected to adopt a set of changes to the rules governing how the body operates.  The new rules, developed with bipartisan input, are designed to make the Senate process more open to the public.

"These reforms reflect a dramatic change in how the Senate operates," said incoming Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).  "It's important that the public have confidence in our process and we believe that these new rules will help restore that confidence."

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) said, "I've listened closely to my constituents and to the members of our caucus, and this reform package reflects what they've asked for.  We're committed to making the Senate more open and visible, and we will also be looking at ways to make other parts of state government more open as well."

Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow (D-Lackawanna) said, "These changes were very important to our caucus.  We urged the incoming Republican leadership to make changes like this, and we're pleased that they worked with us to develop a set of rules that will make the Senate more transparent."

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.

"Government reform -- of all three branches -- will be a session-long focus for us," said Sen. Scarnati.  "These changes are important, but they are definitely not the last step."

CONTACT:

Sean Moll
(717) 783-0192