Pa. Senate GOP pushes "government reform" bills

State Senate Republicans yesterday unveiled a "government reform" package they say would improve public access to records, increase accountability and go a long way toward restoring the public's faith in Harrisburg.

The 10 measures range from the simple (posting all government salaries online) to the complex (retooling the state's procurement process). Other would ban government bonuses and end lame-duck legislative sessions.

"You will hear the theme of government accountability from our caucus all session long," said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) at a Capitol news conference. Although some were tweaked a bit, all the bills were introduced last session. Nine passed the Senate with widespread bipartisan support only to die in the House.

Pileggi said he was hopeful that the package would fare better in the two-year session that began earlier this month in part because the House has a new leadership team.

New House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D., Luzerne) was reviewing the bills and did not have immediate comment on them yesterday, his spokesman said.

- Mario F. Cattabiani