Tuesday, April 16, 2013

PA Reform Bills

A number of bills were introduced or acted upon today.  This is a quick and incomplete rundown.  Interested readers are encouraged to dig further on their own.

SB 37, electronic voter registration, introduced Jan 4, 2013, second consideration 4/16/2013
Sponsors:  SMUCKER, PILEGGI, FARNESE, BAKER, ALLOWAY,
ERICKSON, TEPLITZ, FONTANA, WASHINGTON, WILLIAMS, SMITH,
FERLO, LEACH AND SCHWANK

SB 752, introduced 4/15/2013, lobbying disclosure
Sponsors:  EICHELBERGER, STACK, FOLMER, TEPLITZ, SCHWANK,
TARTAGLIONE, WAUGH, BREWSTER AND KASUNIC

SB 753, introduced 4/15/2013, public access to contract award information,
Sponsors:  EICHELBERGER, STACK, FOLMER, TEPLITZ, SCHWANK,
RAFFERTY, VULAKOVICH, TARTAGLIONE, WAUGH, BREWSTER AND
KASUNIC

SB 754, introduced 4/15/2013, providing for disclosure of political contributions
Sponsors:  EICHELBERGER, STACK, FOLMER, TEPLITZ, SCHWANK,
RAFFERTY, VULAKOVICH, TARTAGLIONE, WAUGH, FARNESE, BREWSTER
AND KASUNIC

HB 1175, introduced 4/15/2013.  This confuses me as the text added specifically adds campaigns for state house and state senate to campaign finance reporting guidelines but the entire text of the original law is not included so I can be sure what is actually being done here.  But, honestly, state house and senate campaigns weren't included before?  Alarming.
Sponsors:  FREEMAN, MURT, SCHLOSSBERG, CARROLL, FABRIZIO,
GIBBONS, HARHAI, MATZIE, MCCARTER, MUNDY, O'BRIEN, PAINTER,
SANTARSIERO, STEPHENS AND THOMAS

2 comments:

Mark said...

Regarding HB 1175, which I have co-sponsored:

Under the current campaign finance reporting law, candidates for state House and Senate must file five times in an election year: Second Friday before primary, 30 days after primary, second Friday before election, 30 days after election, end of year.

This means a loooong time between the second and third reports. Typically, early June to late October. Most fundraising occurs during this time. By the time the second Friday pre-election report is filed and posted online, we are at, maybe even past, Election Day.

Candidates for statewide offices (e.g., Governor, Attorney General) have two additional reporting times: Sixth Tuesday pre-primary and pre-election. This bill would add state House and Senate candidates to the list of candidates who must file those reports (i.e., seven times a year instead of just five.)

I hope this helps.

Mark said...

Regarding HB 1175, which I have co-sponsored:

Under the current campaign finance reporting law, candidates for state House and Senate must file five times in an election year: Second Friday before primary, 30 days after primary, second Friday before election, 30 days after election, end of year.

This means a loooong time between the second and third reports. Typically, early June to late October. Most fundraising occurs during this time. By the time the second Friday pre-election report is filed and posted online, we are near, maybe even past, Election Day.

Candidates for statewide offices (e.g., Governor, Attorney General) have two additional reporting times: Sixth Tuesday pre-primary and pre-election. This bill would add state House and Senate candidates to the list of candidates who must file those reports (i.e., seven times a year instead of just five.)

I hope this helps.