FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2007
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Floor Remarks – 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.