Senate News Update
From Senator Jane Earll
October 5, 2007

Legislative Session Online

It may be hard to believe, but it wasn't until the 1994 that cameras were brought into the state Senate to televise legislative sessions.

Prior to that, the only way to see and hear what senators were debating and voting on was to make the trip to Harrisburg and take a seat in the gallery of the Senate chamber. I encourage visits to the Capitol when possible, but that's a long way to go just to see democracy in action, and it's just not practical for older citizens.

Television coverage via the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) offered the first practical window into the workings of the General Assembly. Unfortunately, not everyone in our area gets PCN on their cable systems.

That's why I'm pleased that a video feed of the Senate's floor action is now available live via the Internet. The live video stream is available through the Senate's bipartisan web site at www.pasen.gov by clicking on "Senate Session Live." (The date and time of the next Senate session is listed under "Current Happenings.") 

At the top of www.pasen.gov you can click on "Session Info," which lists the Senate Calendar (bills scheduled to be voted on), as well as votes, committee votes and Senate Journals (transcripts of floor action).

Broadcasting the Senate's floor action on the Internet is the latest in a string of reforms and improvements to public access. New Senate rules include:

• Prohibiting automated telephone calls using Senate funds.
• Requiring all roll call votes from the Senate floor to be posted on the Internet within 24 hours, and all Senate committee votes to report legislation to be posted within 48 hours.
• Requiring posting the Senate's Legislative Journal – which includes the full text of all floor debates – on the Internet within 45 days.
• Requiring amendments to be posted to the Internet before they may be offered on the Senate floor.
• Establishing a six-hour waiting period before the Senate votes on an amended bill or a conference committee report.
• Requiring an updated fiscal note for a bill when an amendment to that bill has a fiscal impact.
• Limiting Senate session times to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• Eliminating private leases for Senate vehicles.

In addition, House Bill 10 was amended by the Senate in June to unlink state judicial raises from raises in federal salaries. That bill has been signed into law as Act 30 of 2007.

Other reform bills to pass the Senate this year include Senate Bill 467, which would increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law; and two measures I'm co-sponsoring: Senate Bill 468, which would eliminate "lame duck" legislative sessions; and Senate Bill 729, which would require government salary information to be posted online.  You can also access these and all pending bills from my website, www.senatorearll.com.  Just click on the "Electronic Bill Room" in the upper right corner.

I hope you'll add www.pasen.gov to you Internet "favorites" list and watch the Senate in action when you get a chance. It's your government, and you have a right to see how laws are debated and passed.

As always, if you have any questions on this or another state government matter, please do not hesitate to contact my office directly at (814) 453-2515.