Posted: | January 8, 2015 11:44 AM |
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From: | Representative Tina M. Davis |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Ban State Agency Use of Outside Lobbyists (Former House Bill 1085 of 2013-14) |
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation prohibiting Commonwealth agencies from employing outside lobbyists for the purpose of lobbying the General Assembly. Last session, this proposal was introduced as House Bill 1085, Printer’s Number 1312. As you may recall, this legislation was originally introduced during the 2011-12 Legislative Session because Commonwealth agencies and affiliates such as the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby the General Assembly. While I appreciate that Commonwealth agencies play an integral role in shaping policy, this practice is nothing more than wasteful spending. Commonwealth agencies have various outlets to reach members of the General Assembly to discuss policy and funding. With a nearly $2 billion structural deficit looming, we must eliminate unnecessary expenditures of taxpayer dollars. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1926