Pa. rep wants your input

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. — The public is invited to share ideas and feedback on legislative reform in Pennsylvania by sending e-mail to reform@pahouse.net.

State Rep. Jaret Gibbons of Ellwood City, D-10th, outlined a number of reforms he would like to see enforced during the 2007-08 legislative session during testimony before the Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform in Harrisburg.

“I made legislative reform a priority during my campaign, and I want to make sure that my constituents know that their concerns were brought to the attention of the commission,” Gibbons explained. “While I couldn’t address each and every possible reform in the short time I was allotted for my testimony, I believe my comments were welcomed by the members and I’m certain that they’ll be considered as we move forward in this process.”

In his testimony, Gibbons advocated for changes to House rules, including: limiting legislative business hours to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.; eliminating substantial amendments to a bill on final consideration; limiting chairmanships to four terms; allowing reasonable Harrisburg leave and voting by proxy; and posting House votes on the Internet at the end of the legislative day.

Gibbons also recently received his legislative committee assignments. He will serve on the commerce, labor relations, finance and Democratic policy committees, and was appointed to the position of majority secretary of the State Government Committee.

He is also a member of the Northwest Caucus and was elected to serve as secretary of the Southwest Caucus.

Legislative caucuses are informal groups of lawmakers who organize based on common geographical or issue-based interests.

Gibbons’ constituents can e-mail him through his Web site: www.pahouse.com/Gibbons.