State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana said he will eagerly support legislation that would make the legislative process more open, accountable and responsive to average citizens.
"Last summer's pay raise debacle was just a symptom," Fontana said. "This proposal goes after the problem."
Fontana's comments came following a public hearing held by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee on a proposal by fellow Democrat, Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Phila.) Fontana said the Fumo proposal would assure that there is ample time for lawmakers to read over a bill and discuss it with constituents before making a vote.
He said the proposal would also empower a small percentage (10 percent) of lawmakers to insist that a public hearing be held on a bill before it can be voted."While I have only been in the state Senate for about a year, I am disgusted by all the procedural loopholes in the legislative process," Fontana said.
"Too often, legislative proposals have been gutted and altered in a matter of hours, and then sprung on lawmakers for a vote with very little time to review and debate the bill."
"I am also stunned that the average person cannot go onto the Internet and get floor remarks or even find out how their elected legislator voted on a bill," Fontana said. He said the Fumo proposal would rectify that problem by requiring that detailed legislative journals (written account of floor action) be posted on the Internet within 20 days, and that specific votes be posted within 24 hours.
Fontana said he anticipates that the proposal will be introduced as legislation in the weeks ahead.
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