Democrats argue the reform is “lite,” will stall future progress

Legislation to create a searchable budget database for state government expenditures and investments unanimously passed the House Wednesday and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

H.B. 15, introduced by state Rep. Jim Christiana (R – Beaver), would create a website for all three branches of state government and their respective agencies but would not be updated in real time and would show expenses by agency or caucus instead of the individual use of those funds.

“Today we get half a loaf,” said state Rep. Mark Longietti (D – Mercer). “Half a loaf is better than no loaf but it isn’t particularly satisfying. My biggest disappointment is we have failed to cover the same government agencies that we cover in the Right To Know law.”

The state Treasury would manage the website and information from the other departments and agencies.

Concerns ranged from the timeliness of information posted on the website to the agencies covered to the level of detail involved. Mr. Christiana gave the example that an agency such as a legislative caucus would have to report its expenditures and the appropriation behind it but agreed expenses by individual legislators would not be visible through the website.

Tuesday witnessed a series of amendments proposed by Democrats failing to be attached to H.B. 15 with only three amendments passing, those introduced by Mr. Christiana, state Rep. Bryan Barbin (D – Cambria) and state Rep. William Kortz (D – Allegheny).

Mr. Christiana’s amendment included employee compensation in the bill, as well as expanding the definition of entities which would be covered in the database to add individuals, unions, corporations and “other legal business” entities. It also elaborated on funding sources listed on the website.

Mr. Barbin’s amendment added the total number of employees for each Commonwealth agency for the previous fiscal year.

Mr. Kortz’s amendment requires the addition of links to Commonwealth agencies, where available, though debate surrounded the necessity of linking to other sites or information.

Eight other amendments failed to pass, including Mr. Longietti’s to change the language surrounding those agencies whose information would be listed on the website.

Another amendment to track the state’s bonded indebtedness, an amendment to track state credit card activity, an amendment to track the state’s tax credit programs and an amendment of all public investment funds including those used for capital projects, all failed to pass Tuesday.

“It does not require the amount and nature of our bonded indebtedness… the cost of capital projects…amounts paid under subcontracts…[or] the amount of salaries and wages paid to employees on an agency by agency basis,” said state Rep. Rick Mirabito (D – Lycoming). “I hope that as we move forward this session we will not blink in the future. I hope we will find ways to empower the people of Pennsylvania to embrace real change.”

State Rep. Mike Sturla also criticized the bill and said it was “not real reform.”

“It’s like genuine pleather,” said Mr. Sturla. “It’s not exactly what you thought it was but it looks good on the outside. This is not real reform but it’s the best you’ll allow us to have today. We tried to amend it we tried to make it better.”

Not all legislators were disappointed, however.

“This is real reform,” said state Rep. Robert Matzie (D – Allegheny), who cosponsored H.B. 15. “The public will have a better feeling for what we do here. Members on both sides of the aisle have talked about how important it is to have that trust…hopefully this is just a start and some of the amendments will get their opportunity and their just due as we look forward.”

But Mr. Christiana argued against the other representatives’ claims the bill did not include enough state government agencies in its scope and said the passage of the bill was an “exciting day.”

“Today’s an exciting day for all of us,” he said. “H.B. 15 will go to the Senate where they’ve already had the appetite for an online database the last two sessions. They’ve worked with us, they’ve worked with the Democratic Treasurer and his staff.”

A similar bill, H.B. 1880, passed the state House last session but failed to pass the Senate.