Greg S. Vitali (Democrat) Delaware County Occupation: Legislator Education: St. Joseph's Prep., 1974; Villanova University , B.S., Economics, 1978; Villanova University, Law School, J.D., 1981 Member of the House: 1993 to date Standing Committee Assignments: • Environmental Resources and Energy (Subcommittee Chairman on Energy) • Judiciary • State Government Contact Information: Hon. Greg S. Vitali 1001 East Darby Rd Havertown, PA 19083 (610) 789-3900 Fax: (215) 560-4197 Hon. Greg S. Vitali 103B East Wing Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 787-7647 Fax: (717) 705-2089 www.libertynet.org/~vitali

House Rules Reforms Desperately Needed Changes Would Ban Incumbent PSAs, Disclose Lobbying & Improve Legislative Process Rep. Greg S. Vitali By: State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware This past week, I introduced a package of proposed House rules changes designed to improve the legislative process, document the lobbying of House members and ban the use of taxpayer money that give incumbents an unfair advantage in House elections. These reforms are important not just for the people of Pennsylvania, but for the integrity of the House as an institution. In several respects, the legislative process and the electoral process regarding the House of Representatives have broken down. Increasingly, rank-and-file members and the public are shut out of the legislative process while responsibility for making laws is concentrated in the hands of a few. Lobbyists are spending unknown amounts to influence lawmakers and policy free from public scrutiny, and legislative leaders are using millions in taxpayer dollars to help deter challenges to both Republican and Democratic incumbents and to limit the choices people have in elections. The resolutions I am proposing would do the following: Bar House members from using state money to purchase radio or television time, or for telephone or telemarketing efforts. During the past several election cycles, leaders from both parties have used increasing amounts of money from their taxpayer-funded legislative accounts to mount these public service announcements and constituent outreach efforts on behalf of incumbent candidates in close races. Require lobbyists to register and file quarterly expense reports with the House. This would provide the same lobbyist registration and reporting requirements that currently are in Senate rules, and would give the public a means of measuring lobbyist activity in Pennsylvania in light of the absence of any meaningful state lobbying disclosure law. Restore previous House rules that required a brief analysis of legislation to be read on the House floor prior to a vote and a brief explanation of amendments that were being offered to bills. The new rule would also require a brief explanation of the contents of bills or amendments when the rules are suspended to consider them immediately. Expand the scope of debate permitted on bills that are up for a vote on concurrence after returning from the Senate. Currently, debate on these bills is limited to the provisions added or changed by the Senate. The new rule would allow debate on the entire contents of the bill. Require that members be given at least 24 hours' notice before consideration of bills that are returning from the Senate on concurrence. Current rules limit notice to just one hour. Require at least two business days' notice of committee meetings and their agendas. In addition, this rule would require members to be given copies of amendments that are going to be considered in committee at least one day in advance. House rules and procedures should be designed to encourage participation by all members and to accommodate lively and open debate. Rules changes in recent years seem designed to do just the opposite: stifle debate and eliminate any scrutiny by the public. This breakdown in our basic legislative procedures, along with the tremendous amounts of money that are being spent to influence and protect incumbent legislators, both by lobbyists and by legislative leaders using taxpayer dollars, threatens to make our House completely unaccountable -- and unresponsive -- to the people who elect its members. These rules changes are designed as a first step in pointing our chamber once again toward deliberation and accountability, and away from secrecy and haste, and in shifting the balance of power in the House back to all members and the people they represent, and away from a few leaders and lobbyists. ### CapNews Guest Speaker: Archives Back to CapNews