Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Second and Third Instances of PA Legislative Calendar Tampering

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe 12th District Pennsylvania House of Representatives (724) 772-3110 (717) 783-1707

http://www.repmetcalfe.com

Contact: Kim Bartley

(724) 772-3110

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2005

Second and Third Instances of Legislative Calendar Tampering

Delay Pay Raise Repeal Vote

HARRISBURG—Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) issued the following status report today regarding the ongoing effort to repeal the state government pay raise enacted in early July.

“This week, Pennsylvania taxpayers saw two more days tick off the 15-day legislative time clock until a discharge resolution can be introduced to force both pay raise repeal bills to the House floor, where they rightfully belong, for debate,” said Metcalfe. “Just like clock work, the all-too-convenient cancellations of both today, October 26, and tomorrow, October 27, as official voting session days signals that the snooze button has been hit once again to delay the taxpayer day of reckoning on this unconstitutional salary increase.”

Monday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 25 marked Day 5 and Day 6, respectively, of 15 legislative days until discharge resolutions can be introduced to move both House Bill 1956, to repeal the unvouchered expenses portion of the pay raise, and House Bill 1945, to repeal the salary increase in its entirety, from the Rules Committee to the House floor for consideration. Due to this week’s calendar changes, Session Day 7 is now scheduled to take place on Monday, October 31.

“If the House Calendar was left untouched, our efforts to discharge this legislation would already be past the half way point,” said Metcalfe. “The best shot we have to put a stop to further legislative tampering is for Pennsylvania taxpayers to contact their state representatives and demand that they support this discharge resolution effort. In short, elected officials must be reminded that any failure to carry out the will of their constituents has consequences.”

As stated in House Rule 53, “A member may present to the Chief Clerk a resolution in writing to discharge a committee from the consideration of a bill or resolution which has been referred to it 15 legislative days prior thereto…” After 25 member signatures are collected, the discharge resolution is officially entered in the House Journal and placed on the voting calendar. Once on the calendar, the final vote on whether to adopt the resolution can be taken as early as the second day after the full House is notified.

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Vice Chairman of Voter Education

http://www.ycop.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YCOP/

http://www.InformedPA.com

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