10-Bill Package would increase openness, accountability
State Senator Elder Vogel Jr., (R-47) announced today he is supporting a package of 10 bills introduced by Senate Republicans aimed at increasing accountability and transparency in state government.
Senator Vogel and several of his colleagues hosted a press conference in the State Capitol to announce the introduction of the legislative package. Among the bills introduced today are measures to change how consulting contracts are awarded, to increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law which requires public business to be done at open meetings, to ban bonus payments for state employees, and to eliminate lame-duck legislative sessions.
“Most of the bills in this reform package were approved before by the Senate,” Senator Vogel said. “We need to continue to push them forward. The people of Pennsylvania as well as the people of my district are tired of the ways things have been in the past. We need more transparency in government. We need to put information on the internet where people can see it. People should be able to go on the internet and see what we are paid and what contracts are out there. It’s the right thing to do.”
The 10-bill package includes:
- Senate Bill 101 would increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law.
- Senate Bill 102 would reform the procurement of consulting contracts.
- Senate Bill 103 would prohibit bonuses for Commonwealth employees.
- Senate Bill 104 would increase accountability related to the use of state-owned vehicles.
- Senate Bill 105 would create a searchable online budget database.
- Senate Bill 106, a constitutional amendment, would eliminate sine die legislative sessions.
- Senate Bill 107 would require the posting of government salary information online.
- Senate Bill 108 would change the process for filling a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor.
- Senate Bill 109, the Taxpayer-Funded Advertising Transparency Act, would let inform taxpayers regarding money spent on government advertising.
- Senate Bill 110 would improve access to, and expand the information contained in, state plane logs.
A video clip of Senator Vogel commenting on these bills may be found by logging on to his website at: www.senatoreldervogel.com.
CONTACT: Owen Thomas
(717) 787-3076