For Immediate Release
July 9, 2007
Erik Arneson
(717) 787-4712
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Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee Hearing Scheduled for Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.

HARRISBURG – Senator Jane Earll (R-Erie) announced today that the Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 10, at 3:00 p.m., in an effort to learn more about how state employees were classified critical versus non-critical for the purpose of determining which employees would ultimately be furloughed and how such may potentially impact the Commonwealth and the newly established gaming industry.

Sen. Earll, along with Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), reached an agreement with the Rendell Administration today. Under that agreement, Gov. Rendell’s Secretary of Administration Joe Martz and Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf are required to honor Senate-issued subpoenas and appear at the hearing.

Deputy Secretary Naomi Wyatt will provide testimony on behalf of Martz, while Deputy Secretary James Honchar will testify on behalf of Wolf.

“I look forward to questioning these witnesses at the hearing,” Sen. Earll said. “The public deserves answers on the many issues related to Gov. Rendell’s decision to furlough state workers.”

Last week, Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf and Secretary of Administration Joe Martz chose to ignore duly issued subpoenas which required them to appear before the Senate committee.

A letter outlining the agreement for Ms. Wyatt and Mr. Honchar to testify was signed by attorneys for the Senate and the administration. A copy of that letter is available at here.

Tuesday’s hearing will take place in Hearing Room #1 of the North Office Building.