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EDITORIAL-OPINION |
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CONTACT: Lauren Rooney |
State Rep. John Galloway |
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To: Guy Petrezillo, Editorial Page Editor
Bucks County Courier Times
Please consider the following editorial written by state Rep. John Galloway. For more information you may contact Lauren Rooney at 717-787-7895, email lrooney@pahouse.net
New rules, now what?
Rep. John Galloway editorial on legislative reform
On March 13 the state House finally went where no Pa legislative body has gone before. We voted to make key changes to House rules that will end ghost voting, middle-of-the-night sessions and private vehicle leases, and hold lawmakers accountable for their actions and management of tax dollars. As a freshman lawmaker, I am proud to have helped set the tone for more accountability at the state Capitol.
There has been some bad blood between the public and its elected officials of late caused by years of backroom dealings and abuse of tax dollars. For years, many elected officials were allowed to be mischief-makers because they thought the public wasn’t paying attention, or felt citizen voices didn’t matter.
We learned in November that your voices do matter. You spoke loud and clear with your votes that business as usual in Harrisburg was no longer acceptable. The Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform that crafted the changes to House rules was formed in response to public outcry for change.
So, the legislature listened to your demands. Now what? Does it end here with some new rules?
I sure hope not. There are dozens of reform-minded bills, like the new open records bill of which I am a co-sponsor, fighting for attention in the House. Once again your voice is needed to move reform forward. Educate yourselves about the issues and let your lawmaker know where you stand.
The public is an important part of the checks and balances that make democracy great. Apathy breeds resentment and contempt. It weakens the checks, allows the balances to be tilted, and erodes the foundation of democracy. To quote an old saying, “Decisions are made by those who show up.”
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