Posted: | April 8, 2016 11:00 AM |
---|---|
From: | Representative Ryan A. Bizzarro |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | No Pay for Serving on Boards |
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation designed to remove perceived conflicts of interest for public officials and employees serving on corporate or non-profit boards outside of their government service. My legislation would prohibit public officials and public employees serving on these boards from receiving any salary or other compensation for that service, other than the reimbursement for actual expenses provided to other members of the board. Pennsylvania citizens whose taxes pay the salaries and other compensation of public officials and employees expect those individuals to be responsive to their needs, not to special interests or other private groups. Unfortunately, the growing influence of money in Pennsylvania elections and government -- 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. My bill is being introduced 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. |
Introduced as HB1981