Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future I will be introducing a rules reform resolution to require that the maker of any bill or amendment considered before the Senate stand for interrogation at the request of any member.  
 

During this past session, on many occasions members of our body asked the maker of a bill or amendment to stand for interrogation during Senate floor debates. In many instances, the maker of the bill or amendment declined to stand for interrogation. Those decisions denied the people of Pennsylvania the opportunity to hear the maker of the bill defend its intention and its quality; to have their elected representatives examine the rational for moving forward.  
 

As a member of the Pennsylvania Senate, I would be honored to stand and defend every bill I have written or will write. The only reason to allow any member to decline interrogation is to allow them to hide behind procedure while advancing a bill they know is indefensible. 
 

Being an elected official is a privilege bestowed on every member of our chamber by the people of our districts. Those people send us to Harrisburg to do hard work on their behalf. Part of that hard work should be standing up for the legislation you author.  
 

Please join me in supporting this important resolution to improve the legislative process.