Thursday, December 15, 2005

New proposal for legislative deliberation

State Senator Vince Fumo has introduced a package of bills that might make Harrisburg legislators a bit more accountable, by giving the minority party a bit more say and the public a chance to keep up with what they're up to.
One proposal would require that all legislation wait at least 72 hours after it is amended before a final vote, giving the public and lawmakers time to review bills and have their opinions be known. Another bill, which Fumo called the most important of his package, would require a public hearing on any legislation if 10 percent of the House or Senate requested it.
. . .
The pay raise issue "really opened the eyes of people, and people are finally starting to get that the way things are done has a tremendous impact on how things turn out," said Barry Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause of Pennsylvania, a good government group, who sat beside Fumo at yesterday's news conference.
Should be interesting to hear the debate on this one. A Daily News editorial weighs in in favor of these measures, and gives some recent examples of legislation that was passed in a rush and then repented at leisure. Dan at YPP also gives the measures some props, while marveling at the newfound progressivism of their sponsor... We think it all sounds great!

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am happy that my ideas have taken hold so well with the public and Editorial writers throughout PA. Now those voices have to be heard by the members of the General Assembly. As I have said before, this stuff "ain't sexy" but it is among the MOST important iuuses facing our Deomcracy in Pennsylvania. Sen. Vince Fumo

2:32 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Looks like your blog is becomming well read!

3:05 PM  
Blogger ACM said...

it always goes in waves...
(Mark Cohen was muttering here for a while, but is hopefully busy at moment with movement on the minimum wage front...)

3:07 PM  

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