Senator Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin) and Representative Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) announced the creation of a new bipartisan, bicameral Government Reform Caucus, calling the caucus a means to advocate for legislation that will bring reform and transparency to state government. The lawmakers said that fundamental reforms to state government are imperative so that the General Assembly is in a position where it can take on the many challenges that Pennsylvania faces.
The newly formed caucus immediately introduced several pieces of legislation. Teplitz introduced several bills that would: provide for independent audits of the General Assembly and its accounts by the Auditor General; eliminate annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for legislators; suspend pay for the governor and the general assembly if a state budget is late; eliminate lame-duck sessions; allow registered Independents to temporarily change their registration so they can vote in primaries; and provide for lobbying reform. Cutler also introduced bills aimed at reform. His bills propose to: return to a part-time legislature; increase penalties for lobbyists who fail to properly register with the state; establish merit selection for judges based on qualifications and experience; institute a two-year budget process; and limit annuity amounts so that public employee retirees are not making more money in retirement than they did while working for the government.
Teplitz and Cutler are the co-chairs of this new caucus and other members include Senators Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), John Eichelberger (R-Blair), Ted Erickson (R-Chester), Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango), John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Judy Schwank (D-Berks), and Mike Stack (D-Philadelphia), and Representatives Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster), Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe), Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland), Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland), Pamela DeLissio (D-Philadelphia), George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland), Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland), Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Mindy Fee (R-Lancaster), Jaret Gibbons (D-Lawrence), Glen Grell (R-Cumberland), Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), Patty Kim (D-Dauphin), John Lawrence (R-Chester), Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh), Steven Mentzer (R-Lancaster), Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny), Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh), Justin Simmons (R-Northampton), Rose Marie Swanger (R-Lebanon) and Dan Truitt (R-Chester).