Senate Republicans: No Lame Duck Session in 2008

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) announced today that the Senate will not convene for a regular lame duck session in 2008.

"The Senate will not convene for the traditional lame duck session after the November 4 elections," said Sen. Scarnati. "We are announcing this now so that we can plan, along with the House and the governor, to complete this year's legislative work before the election."

The 26 days between November 4 and November 30 are known as a "lame duck" session because some members of the General Assembly can vote on legislation despite the fact that their successors have already been elected. At least six new members will be elected to the Senate this year, replacing retiring members.

A lame duck session can run until November 30 because the state constitution requires the legislative session to end by that date in every even-numbered year.

Through the years, lame duck sessions have been criticized because legislators and the governor are less accountable to voters during this period of time. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Pennsylvania is currently one of only 12 states that do not limit the length of legislative sessions.

"This decision is part of our ongoing effort to make the Senate's work more transparent to the public," said Sen. Pileggi. "It is in line with our efforts to rewrite Pennsylvania's Open Records Law, to strengthen the Sunshine Law, and to make government at all levels more open and responsive."

Nearly a year ago, the Senate approved Senate Bill 468, a constitutional amendment sponsored by Sen. Bob Regola (R-39) which would eliminate regular lame duck sessions.