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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich |
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Kavulich continues reform efforts in Harrisburg
Crafting a bill to make reward of being on board of directors the work and nothing more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 16 – State Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming, is crafting a bill that would prohibit members of the General Assembly from being paid to serve on the board of directors of any corporation, business or organization.
"Receiving compensation as an elected official could cause a conflict of interest which would be contrary to the office of state legislator," Kavulich said. "I feel that it is necessary for lawmakers to remove any indication of impropriety as we work for the citizens of the Commonwealth, and believe this bill would be an important step toward that goal."
Kavulich's bill would only allow elected officials to be reimbursed for expenses incurred by serving on various boards.
Kavulich said lawmakers can be valuable members of such boards because they bring a vast amount of experience and knowledge, and his bill would not prohibit members of the General Assembly from serving boards.
In his effort to bring transparency and accountability to state government, Kavulich also co-sponsored several reform bills that have passed the House and are now in the state Senate for consideration:
· House Bill 15 would post state agency spending on a public website;
· House Bill 105 would protect employees of nonprofits and private sector companies who report waste of public money obtained by their employer;
· House Bill 109 would prohibit a member of the General Assembly from creating or maintaining a legislative nonprofit organization.
"We need openness, transparency and accountability in state government, and these bills are a good first step toward that goal," Kavulich said. "It’s disappointing that the attempt by House Democrats to amend these bills to make them even stronger failed, but hopefully we can continue building on the ideals set forth in the bills so citizens will have confidence in their state government."
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