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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. John Hornaman D-Erie State Rep. Patrick Harkins D-Erie State Rep. Flo Fabrizio D-Erie |
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Erie representatives vote for historic open records legislation
HARRISBURG, Dec. 12 – State Reps. John Hornaman, Pat Harkins, and Flo Fabrizio, D-Erie, said they are pleased that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed legislation that would improve Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law.
The Erie representatives supported a comprehensive amendment added by the House to Senate legislation (S.B. 1) that would presume that the records of all branches of state and local government in Pennsylvania are subject to public scrutiny unless they fall within a limited number of exceptions or are protected by other federal or state law. The House passed its version of the bill today.
“The taxpayers of my district, and all of Pennsylvania, should have the absolute right to see how their tax dollars are being spent, whether that spending is done by a government agency or the legislature itself,” Hornaman said. “We in the House have made that possible today, and I hope that the Senate now concurs with our decision. This is a day that Pennsylvanians will remember.”
“Pennsylvania has a reputation for having one of the worst open record laws in the nation,” Harkins said. “Today’s vote in the House is a giant step towards correcting that. The House amended Senate Bill 1 would allow residents easy access to information on how their tax dollars are being spent. More importantly, it puts members of the state legislature under the open records microscope for the first time. I am proud to have been a part of this historic vote, and I hope the Senate will keep this ball rolling by concurring in our amendments.”
“Good government is open government and all of Pennsylvania benefits from this open records law,” Fabrizio said.
The House version of the measure would also create a Public Records Office within the State Ethics Commission to help Pennsylvania residents access public records at the state and local level and to resolve appeals from residents when they are denied access to records. The open records legislation must now return to the Senate for agreement before it goes to the governor for his signature.
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CONTACT: Gabrielle A. Prutisto |