PRINTER'S NO. 1299
No. 88 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY A. K. HUTCHINSON, PETRARCA, KOLTER, LAUGHLIN,
LAUDADIO, SCHEAFFER, VROON, FEE, DeMEDIO, TRELLO, FLAHERTY,
GILLETTE, REED, O'BRIEN, SCHMITT, ITKIN, KERNICK, NOVAK,
ZELLER, GREEN, ROMANELLI AND ZORD, APRIL 28, 1975
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 29, 1975
In the House of Representatives, April 28, 1975
1 WHEREAS, The soaring price of coal is having a disastrous
2 effect on the economy of Pennsylvania and it appears that this
3 situation will only worsen in the future if nothing is done to
4 correct it; and
5 WHEREAS, The rising price of coal affects home heating,
6 electricity production and results in higher prices for many
7 important commodities; and
8 WHEREAS, Many businesses are forced by law to burn cleaner
9 low sulfurate coal the price of which is the highest in the
10 industry's history; and
11 WHEREAS, Huge sums of money are expended by consumers and
12 industry alike to pay for a basic necessity, the cost of which
13 has increased three hundred per cent to four hundred per cent
14 and more in a very short period of time; therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
16 appoint the members of the Mines and Energy Management Committee
1 to investigate, explore and determine the causes, effects and
2 solutions to price of coal problems; and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
4 testimony, and make its investigation at such places as it deems
5 necessary within this Commonwealth. It may issue subpoenas under
6 the hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to
7 appear before it and to answer questions touching matters
8 properly being inquired into by the committee and to produce
9 such books, papers, records and documents as the committee deems
10 necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any person and
11 shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued out of the
12 courts of this Commonwealth. Any person who wilfully neglects or
13 refuses to testify before the committee or to produce any books,
14 papers, records, or documents shall be subject to the penalties
15 provided by the laws of the Commonwealth in such case. Each
16 member of the committee shall have power to administer oaths and
17 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee; and be
18 it further
19 RESOLVED, That within thirty calendar days after the
20 committee has made its report, the chairman of the committee
21 shall cause a record of all expenses incurred by the committee,
22 or the members thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth
23 expenses, to be filed with the Speaker of the House and the
24 Speaker shall cause the same to be entered in the journal
25 thereof. No expenses incurred by the committee or any member
26 thereof shall be reimbursable by the Chief Clerk unless such
27 expense shall first have been included as an expense item in the
28 record heretofore required; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings to the
30 General Assembly as soon as possible.
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