Office of Speaker Dennis M. O’Brien

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

139 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        CONTACT:  Bill Patton

                                                                                                                                   717-787-4610

House Poised to Vote For Historic Reforms

House vote on rules expected March 12

HARRISBURG, March 5 --- Speaker Dennis O’Brien believes the Pennsylvania House is close to adopting landmark changes to its procedures that will substantially improve the lawmaking process and improve public confidence in the legislature.

The Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform completed its first series of meetings last week after approving more than 30 proposed changes to House rules. Those will be bundled into a single measure to be considered when the House meets March 12, with lawmakers free to offer amendments.

“I asked the commission to prioritize its work and look first at the internal operating rules of the House,” O’Brien said. “That may not sound like the most interesting reform, but these rules are absolutely crucial. They are what make everything else possible. They determine how all legislation is considered and whether or not all House members have a chance for input.”

Among the most significant reforms to be proposed are:

• The House may not meet past 11 p.m. unless three-quarters of the members vote to remain due to exigent circumstances.
• The Rules Committee, which is dominated by House leaders, may not amend bills that have been sent back from the Senate for concurrence in amendments.
• Roll call records of House votes shall be posted on the Internet.
• Votes cast in House committees shall be posted on the Internet.
• The practice of “Harrisburg legislative leave” is abolished. Members must be present in the House to have their votes recorded.
• The House must wait at least 24 hours after amendments before passing any bill that has been amended, including bills returned from the Senate for concurrence.
• The Appropriations Committee may no longer make substantive amendments to the language of a non-appropriations bill.
• Anyone making a request for House expense records may receive those electronically.
• Representatives will no longer be allowed to use private vehicle leases, but they can still lease a low-cost vehicle from the state’s fleet.
• Representatives must submit expenses for reimbursement within 90 days. This requirement for timely payment of expenses includes filing for per diem payments.
• Any indicted member who chairs a committee or holds a leadership post must vacate the position until the allegations in the indictment are resolved.

In the first phase of its work, the commission, co-chaired by Reps. David Steil (R-Bucks) and Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery), met eight times for a total of 31 hours. Two of those meetings consisted of presentations by House members then the panel met over a three-week span to consider specific proposals.

O’Brien noted that the reform commission will continue meeting to consider additional legislative reform ideas that go beyond House rules, including changes that would require new laws or constitutional amendments.

“The members who are serving on this commission did an amazing job in considering dozens of new ideas about the House rules,” O’Brien said. “I am extremely impressed by the quality of their deliberations and the bipartisan product that resulted. This example is something the entire House should build upon.”

The commission’s 12 Democratic appointees are Reps. Mark Cohen, Bob Freeman, Tim Mahoney, Kathy Manderino, Phyllis Mundy, Chris Sainato, Josh Shapiro, Tom Tangretti, W. Curtis Thomas, Greg Vitali, Don Walko and. Jewell Williams.

The 12 Republican appointees are Reps. David Argall, Kerry Benninghoff, Jim Cox, Craig Dally, Glen Grell, Jerry Nailor, Brad Roae, Sam Rohrer, Carole Rubley, Curt Schroder, David Steil and Michael Vereb.

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