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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2010
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Senator Pileggi: Experts Testify on Proposed Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct
HARRISBURG – Five experts testified today on a proposal to implement Rules of Ethical Conduct for the state Senate, according to Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which held the public hearing.
The proposed bipartisan Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct were introduced earlier this month by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Senator Pileggi, and Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow (D-22) as Senate Resolution 228.
"We heard from recognized experts in the field of legislative ethics, who praised our work on these rules and who made good suggestions for improvement," said Senator Pileggi. "Now, we will work to revise the proposed rules to implement many of those suggestions before SR 228 is considered by the full Senate."
Appearing before the committee today were:
- Natalie Wood, Senior Policy Specialist for the Center for Ethics in Government at the National Conference of State Legislatures.
- Richard A. Stafford, Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy at the H. John Heinz III College, School of Public Policy and Management, of Carnegie Mellon University.
- John C. Sassaman, Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee.
- Barry Kauffman, Executive Director for Common Cause of Pennsylvania.
- John J. Contino, Executive Director for the State Ethics Commission of Pennsylvania.
Testimony from the five witnesses, along with complete video and audio from the hearing, are available on Senator Pileggi's web site, www.senatorpileggi.com.
The proposed Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct include:
- No Senate employee may conduct any campaign activity on Senate work time.
- No campaign activity may be conducted in a Senate office or with Senate resources.
- The solicitation or receipt of campaign contributions on Senate work time or with Senate resources is prohibited.
- No Senate employee may serve as an officer on a campaign committee or a campaign finance committee on behalf of any Senator or Senate candidate.
- No Senate employee may be required to perform campaign activities or to make campaign contributions.
- Senate mailing lists and email lists may only be used for legislative purposes, and cannot be sold or given to any other entity, including campaigns.
- Senate employees who are responsible for taking or recommending official actions are required to file Financial Interest Statements with the Secretary of the Senate.
- No Senate-funded newsletter may be sent within 60 days of an election.
Annual training shall be provided to all senators and all Senate employees related to the Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct, the Ethics Act, and the Lobbyist Disclosure Act.
Sanctions for violations by an employee can range from a warning to termination of employment, depending on the circumstances. Sanctions for violations by a senator can range from a warning to requiring restitution and any other sanction provided for under the Pennsylvania Constitution.
If it is approved by the Senate Rules Committee, SR 228 would advance to the Senate floor for consideration by the full Senate.
Contact:
Erik Arneson
(717) 787-4712
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