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Orie, Wagner Laud House Passage of Bill
to Establish Pittsburgh Oversight Board
HARRISBURG -- Sen.
Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) and Senator Jack Wagner (D-Allegheny) today commended
members of the House of Representatives for passing legislation to establish a
financial oversight board that will comprehensively address Pittsburgh’s
financial crisis. House Bill 2006, introduced by Representative Mike Turazii
was unanimously approved by the House, and then moved to the Senate where it was
passed by the Appropriations Committee today.
The House today passed an amendment sponsored by
Rep. Tom Stevenson that would address concerns raised by Gov. Ed Rendell. In
December, Rendell vetoed a bill that would have set up an oversight board and
suspended the use of Act 47, a 1987 law designating financially distressed
municipalities.
Since then, Orie and Wagner have been working
with Senate and House members to develop legislation that set up a fiscal
recovery plan for the city and gain the support of the governor.
The amendment to House Bill 2006 makes it
virtually identical to Senate Bill 940, which Orie and Wagner sponsored last
year and which passed both the House and Senate.
“Our goal is to send to the governor a bipartisan
and responsible solution to Pittsburgh’s financial crisis – one that will
address the city’s far-reaching problems and control spending, rather than just
raising revenue,” Orie said. “This bill meets that test, and I believe we
should pass it and begin the work of putting Pittsburgh on the road to
recovery.”
“An independent oversight board is needed to
point the city in the right direction,” said Wagner. “It will evaluate all
options and recommendation solutions to this crisis. I urge my colleges in the
Senate to pass it and the Governor to sign it quickly so the board can get
started.”
Orie noted that a similar oversight board was
instrumental in helping Philadelphia deal with its financial problems.
Governor Rendell has expressed his support for
the measure. House Bill 2006 also has strong bipartisan support from the
Allegheny County Delegation in both the House and the Senate. .
The Stevenson amendment would make a number of
changes to the proposal that was vetoed by Governor Rendell in December. The
measure would:
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Add a gubernatorial appointment to the ICA
board;
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Not suspend Act 47, the Financially
Distressed Municipalities Act;
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Require the oversight board to make
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on revenue and cost
cutting measures within 60 days. It would work on a parallel track with the
Act 47 process, which has already commenced.
“I’m confident that with these changes, this bill
will become law and we can work together to help Pittsburgh to control spending,
develop a fiscally responsible plan and get it’s financial house in order,” Sen.
Orie said. “I commend all of those legislators who are working so hard on
behalf of the city and this region to find solutions to this very serious
crisis,” added Wagner.
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