House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search

House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	April 8, 2016 10:46 AM
From:	Representative Daniel T. McNeill
To:	All House members
Subject:	No Budget, No Pay

While state legislators vote on and pass hundreds of bills each legislative session, our primary responsibility is passing a balanced state budget that allows us to pay the bills, fund schools and other services, and meet the needs of Pennsylvanians. Yet the past several budgets have created a nearly $2 billion structural imbalance. Once again, the state is finishing the fiscal year with an unbalanced, inadequate budget that will make the problem even worse. The process is broken and we must take steps to fix it. That's why I will be introducing legislation that would prohibit state representatives and senators from receiving their salaries or per diems if an annual budget is not completed by June 30 each year. Salaries and per diems would be restored and reimbursed once a budget is passed. The growing influence of money in Pennsylvania elections -- particularly that of special interests -- has made the wealthiest voices the loudest and the ones with the most influence and access to government officials in Harrisburg. The extent to which these powerful and influential special interests have become entrenched in Pennsylvania politics is one of the primary reasons for the inability to reach a solution to our historic structural budget deficit. Withholding salaries and per diems from legislators when there is no state budget in place would both incentivize legislators to move the budget process forward, and also remind us of who really pays the bills, and who we truly work for. Both would lead to more meaningful negotiations and genuine compromise to get a balanced budget done on time. I am introducing my bill as part of a legislative reform package being advanced by House Democrats, which will improve transparency in our state and limit the influence that wealthy individuals, corporations and other special interests have in our politics. They are an overdue, key component of returning control of politics and state government to the people of Pennsylvania. Please consider joining me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

---