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For Immediate
Release
1/2/07
CONTACT:
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
Senator
Dominic Pileggi
Floor
Remarks on Rules Changes
In most
years, the adoption of the Operating Rules for the Senate is a
straightforward procedure, accomplished with little comment or
controversy. This year is different -- our rules are going to be
changed in profound ways, with the purpose of making our part of the
legislative process align more closely with the public interest in a
more open, transparent legislative process.
The two
most significant rules changes over the past fifteen years -- requiring
lobbyist disclosure and opening Senate sessions to television coverage
-- were indisputably good government steps and enjoyed wide bipartisan
backing.
Today,
we are presenting a package of rules changes -- seven in all -- that are
good government at their heart and that again reflect substantial input
from Republicans and Democrats. I want to acknowledge the leadership of
Senator Mellow in helping craft and setting the stage for these changes.
Members
on both sides of the aisle, and the public at large, have urged us to
change the way that our business is conducted. These rules changes will
open up our deliberations. These rules changes will derail the
"fast-track" legislating that has been heavily criticized and that is
prone to error. These rules changes will allow for questions to be
asked and answers to be provided, before final action is taken. These
rules changes will enable people to more easily track our actions and to
determine how their Senator is representing them.
The
advantages are apparent. We will give Pennsylvanians a better chance to
see what action is pending and what the cost implications will be. We
will give Pennsylvanians a more timely record so they can check how
members voted and what they said about the issues. We will give
Pennsylvanians an assurance that the graveyard shift of legislating is
off-limits for the Senate. We will give fewer grounds for the legal
challenges on process that have haunted most major legislation in recent
sessions.
There
is no better way to begin a new legislative session than by responding
to public concerns. In a time when the most pressing public concern is
governmental reform, we will be judged by what we do to advance such
reforms. 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.
 
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