FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2007
Contact: Erik Arneson
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Sen. Pileggi Announces Senate Rules Reforms

The Pennsylvania Senate has adopted a set of new rules which will make Senate actions more open and accessible to Pennsylvania citizens. Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) led the push for the new rules, and said they represent bipartisan, good government reforms which will enable people to more easily track legislative actions and to determine how their Senator is representing them. 

"In a time when the most pressing public concern is governmental reform, we will be judged by what we do to advance such reforms," Pileggi said. "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." 

Pileggi, prime sponsor of Senate Resolution 5 – which includes the new rules – also said, "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."

Under the new rules, which were adopted unanimously:

• Session times will be limited to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• Amendments will be posted to the Internet before being offered on the Senate floor.
• The Senate will wait at least six hours before voting on an amended bill or a conference committee report.
• All roll call votes will be posted on the Internet as soon as possible after a vote, but always within 24 hours of a vote.
• Committee votes on bills will be posted on the Internet within 48 hours of the vote.
• The Senate's Legislative Journal – which includes the full text of all floor debates – will be posted on the Internet upon Senate approval of the Journal or within 45 days, whichever is earlier.
• An updated fiscal note will be prepared if a bill is amended after consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee, if the amendment has a fiscal impact.

"We will focus on government reform, of all three branches, this entire session," said Pileggi. "These new rules are very important, but they are definitely not the last step."