Finance Committee approves bill to open spending records

appropriations committee moves science in motion bill forward

Committee actions highlighted the State Senate’s week of May 5th, according to Senator Bob Regola (R-39).

On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 1350, the Taxpayer Transparency Act.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Regola, would direct the Office of Budget to establish a website that the public can access to obtain:

• Information on grants and contracts provided by government agencies.  All transactions above $25,000 would be accessible to the public; 
   

• Agency performance indicators and quarterly performance results compared to these indicators;
   

• Agency line-by-line appropriation analysis including user-friendly detailed monetary breakouts and detailed narrative descriptions.

“Since Pennsylvania taxpayers pay the Commonwealth’s bills, it’s only fair that those records be open and available for public review.  This is another important step in our efforts to make state government more accountable,” said Sen. Regola. 

            Also on Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senate Bill 472, legislation to formally enact into law the Science Technology Partnerships Program, better known as “Science in Motion.”

            Committee approval sets the stage for a final Senate vote on the bill as early as next week, according to Sen. Regola, a co-sponsor of the measure.

            The program, which is already in place in many areas of the Commonwealth, makes state funding available to higher education institutions to purchase high tech science equipment.  This equipment is then transported to and shared with surrounding schools.

            This past year, more than 300 public, private, and parochial schools were served throughout the state by 11 higher education institutions:  Cedar Crest College, Clarion University, Drexel University, Gannon University, Gettysburg College, Juniata College, Susquehanna University, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Ursinus College, Westminster College, and Wilkes University. 

            Background information about Science in Motion, including the program’s most recent Annual Report, is available at www.scienceinmotion.org. 

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Contact:  Nathan Silcox (717) 787-6063