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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 21, 2013 04:00 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative William F. Keller |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Proposed Legislation - Prohibiting Local Governments and School Districts From Using Local Taxpayer Dollars to Fund State Lobbyists |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to prohibit local governments and school districts from using local taxpayer dollars to fund state lobbyists. As you may know, Pennsylvania local government codes authorize municipalities to use public revenue to pay membership dues to local government associations. However, under these laws, associations were simply intended to provide a process to efficiently and economically facilitate communication among local governments concerning local government administration. Yet, currently, associations have significantly expanded their duties and operations and have become a significant and lasting presence in lobbying and public policy. Local governments are paying millions of public dollars each year to associations, and there is little transparency or accountability. Associations have created substantial private-sector and lobbying operations that are funded by taxpayer dollars. Beyond membership dues, associations generate revenue by selling other products and services to municipalities, including insurance and training programs. However, these membership dues and payments to associations are not reported under lobbying disclosure rules. Additionally, their employees often benefit from both private-sector six-figure salaries and public-sector pensions systems. Furthermore, this spending is often unnecessary. Local government officials are permitted to lobby on their own as they are exempt from lobbying disclosure requirements. Local governments may contact representatives, testify at hearings or otherwise weigh in on legislation and any other state-related issues, as long as they are acting within their official capacity. Payments to associations are egregious when compared to payments made to employee unions as employee payments to unions are deducted from employees’ actual earnings while association payments are made from a local government’s general funds. Accordingly, my legislation will prohibit counties, local governments and school districts from making payments from public funds to associations that engage in lobbying. It would not affect payments from employees’ actual earnings that are made to associations or organizations. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important measure. Thank you. |