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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Rick Taylor |
  
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Taylor to introduce legislative bonus ban
HARRISBURG, July 15 – State Rep. Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, announced today that he is introducing legislation that would ban awarding of bonuses to legislative employees.
"Like every other taxpayer in Pennsylvania, I was shocked, outraged and deeply saddened after reviewing the initial findings of the attorney general’s investigation into the awarding of bonuses in the state legislature," Taylor said. "Now, more than ever, it is clear that to achieve true reform in Harrisburg we must create a transparent and open government while eliminating those practices which are most susceptible to abuse.
"The arbitrary awarding of financial bonuses is, sadly and unmistakably, one such practice."
Taylor’s legislation would ban the awarding of any monetary compensation to a legislative employee that is above and beyond that employee’s annual salary or other rate of pay.
"It is long past time for sweeping ethics reform in Harrisburg," Taylor said. "Step one should be the elimination of a practice so easily abused by a small handful of individuals.
"This legislation will be an important step toward helping reform-minded legislators to restore the public’s trust in our state government."
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