FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2010
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Senators Pileggi, Mellow Name Members to Cost Study Commission; First Meeting on Feb. 19

HARRISBURG – Senator Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow (D-22) announced today the names of members appointed to the Government Management and Cost Study Commission created by Senate Resolution 161. 

The leaders also announced that the commission's first meeting will take place on Friday, February 19, at 11 a.m. in Hearing Room #1 of the North Office Building in Harrisburg. 

"We are in a time of unprecedented pressure on state revenues," said Senator Pileggi. "Never before has the need for a commission like this been more clear. I look forward to the commission's work and recommendations." 

"I am hopeful this cross-section of Pennsylvanians representing a variety of professional backgrounds and leadership roles will bring a wide range of insights to the table," said Senator Mellow. "Any and all ideas which have the potential to bring about a more efficient and cost-effective state government are welcome, and I look forward to hearing the commission's recommendations." 

Senator David Argall, the prime sponsor of SR 161 and one of Senator Pileggi's appointments to the commission, said, "In these difficult economic times for Pennsylvania families, the bipartisan goal of this temporary commission is clear:  to find new savings in state government operations, large and small, and avoid the need for future tax increases." 

Senator Pileggi's other appointments to the commission include: 

• Robert Bittenbender of Mechanicsburg, former Budget Secretary under Governors Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker and Dick Thornburgh, and former executive director of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 
• Joseph A. Galli Sr. of Chester Springs, former superintendent of Upper Darby School District. 
• Mike Kolchin of Tannersville, former Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Management at Lehigh University's College of Business and Economics. 
• Kelly Lewis of Harrisburg, President and CEO of TechQuest Pennsylvania and a former member of the state House of Representatives. 

Senator Mellow's appointments to the commission include: 

• Patrick J. Eiding of Philadelphia, President of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council since 2002 and former Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 14. 
• James D. Chiafullo of Presto, a director with the law firm Cohen & Grigsby in Pittsburgh who focuses on the areas of corporate, securities, commercial and real estate law. 
• John Zawarski of Easton, a licensed real estate broker with Nic Zawarski & Sons Realty in Bethlehem.

Contact:

Erik Arneson (Sen. Pileggi)
717-787-4712
earneson@pasen.gov
Lisa Scullin (Sen. Mellow)
717-787-6481
lscullin@pasenate.com