Adjust Text Size
For Immediate Release
January 21, 2009
Contact: Mitchell Hanna
717-397-1309

Senator Lloyd Smucker
Reform News Conference
January 21, 2009

Everywhere we go, we find reform is a strong public priority.  During tough times especially, people expect us to solve budget problems by making things run more efficiently and cost-effectively.  They are convinced that, if decisionmaking is more open, then it will improve in content and quality.  So this package of reforms costs taxpayers nothing, but has great value by increasing accountability and restoring public confidence.

Pennsylvania's current Sunshine Law was written long before the popular reform movement came into being.  It is a solid law in many respects.  However, almost from the day the modern law went into effect, the Achilles' heel has been the lack of meaningful penalties.

Over the past two years, we have seen a county grand jury recommend strengthening the penalties.  And we have seen public officials in different parts of the state unapologetically violate the law because there is little chance of prosecution.

Senate Bill 101 is a simple, straightforward, and necessary upgrading of penalties for serious Sunshine violations.  A fine of up to $1,000 for the first violation, and up to $2,000 for a subsequent violation.

The increased fines are designed to accomplish two important things – discourage participation in illegal secret meetings and encourage enforcement actions when major violations occur.

Prior to joining the Senate, I served as a township supervisor.  In my experience, the open meetings law was not difficult to comply with, nor was it a barrier to responsible and responsive decisionmaking.

Senate Bill 110 is smaller in scope, but built on the same principle of accountability.  If there are comprehensive record-keeping standards in place, and the public and reporters have easy access to those records, it will curtail questionable and excessive uses of the state aircraft.

Each of these proposals could have easily become law last session.  Unfortunately, both died of neglect in the House of Representatives.  Their purpose is still valid; the need still exists.  By starting early this session, and by putting the spotlight so clearly on reform, we hope to see good ideas become strong laws.