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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 17, 2016 04:07 PM |
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| From: | Representative Kristin Hill |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Restoring Checks and Balances in State Government |
| On March 3, 2016, the state treasurer, under pressure from the Wolf Administration, made a choice which threatens the separation of powers in state government. This choice was made because of the governor’s decision to line-item veto the Department of Correction’s funding in December of 2015. As a result of the governor’s veto, the department was forced to operate with only half of its funding for the entire fiscal year. After exhausting these funds by the end of February, the Department of Corrections requested the state treasurer release additional funds to cover expenses beyond the amount approved into law. In effect, the treasurer was asked to override a gubernatorial veto and the appropriation of the General Assembly. After approving the department’s request, the treasurer approved payments for the department which exceeded the original amount approved by the legislature prior to the line-item veto. In order to restore the checks and balances and protect the General Assembly’s role as the commonwealth’s fiscal steward, I plan to introduce legislation which would prevent a repeat of the treasurer’s payments. Under this legislation any payment not required by the Fair Labor and Standards Act or a court decision cannot be made unless approved by the General Assembly and the governor. Please join me and co-sponsor this legislation to restore our government’s checks and balance to improve fiscal oversight for taxpayers. If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Evans at 717-783-8389 or via email at lmevans@pahousegop.com. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HB2374