PRINTER'S NO. 2955
No. 187 Session of 1980
INTRODUCED BY SALVATORE, D. M. O'BRIEN, PERZEL, McKELVEY, ROCKS
AND McMONAGLE, FEBRUARY 27, 1980
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 27, 1980
In the House of Representatives, February 27, 1980
1 WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is in the midst of a grave
2 financial crisis; and
3 WHEREAS, In an effort to alleviate this fiscal emergency, the
4 City of Philadelphia has proposed to furlough members of the
5 police and fire departments of the city; and
6 WHEREAS, The members of the General Assembly, as
7 representatives of the citizens of the Commonwealth, have a
8 responsibility to protect the lives, health and safety of the
9 people of Philadelphia and have a deep concern that the proposed
10 furloughs will endanger the welfare of the residents of the
11 city; and
12 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has a strong interest in the
13 fiscal priorities established by the City of Philadelphia; and
14 WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia may be misplacing its
15 priorities in proposing cuts to such critical areas as fire and
16 police protection rather than other less sensitive programs;
17 therefore be it
1 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the Speaker of the
2 House of Representatives appoint five members, three from the
3 Majority Party, one of whom shall be chairman, and two from the
4 Minority Party upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader,
5 and the President pro tempore of the Senate appoint five
6 members, three from the Majority Party and two from the Minority
7 Party upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader, to make a
8 complete and thorough study of the fiscal priorities established
9 by the City of Philadelphia with regard to the proposed furlough
10 of members of the police and fire departments and of the impact
11 upon the lives, health, safety and welfare of the residents of
12 the city and of the fiscal implications for the Commonwealth;
13 and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the members of the committee shall serve
15 without compensation, but shall be entitled to actual and
16 necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance
17 of official duties, the expenses of the members of the House to
18 be paid from the appropriations to the House of Representatives
19 and the expenses of the members of the Senate to be paid from
20 the appropriations to the Senate; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
22 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
23 necessary. Each member of the committee shall have power to
24 administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before
25 the committee; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and
27 recommendations to the General Assembly as soon as possible.
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