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State Government Committee has busy first half of 07-08 session

As chairwoman, Josephs reported out numerous bills

HARRISBURG, Feb. 7 – Under the helm of state Rep. Babette Josephs as chairwoman, the House State Government Committee had a busy and productive first half of the 2007-08 legislative session.

"My committee is one of the more prolific committees this legislative session, given the intense public interest in reforming state government," said Josephs, D-Phila. "I am proud that my committee has had a hand in numerous pieces of legislation that would improve not only how government records are available to the public, but protecting the state's investment of public funds."

Josephs said in 2007 the committee reported out 38 pieces of legislation: 30 were House bills, six, Senate bills, and two, House resolutions. That's more than any other committee, with the exception of Appropriations, Transportation and Judiciary. In addition, the committee held eight public hearings to review such issues as divestment of state pension funds, changing the date of the presidential primary, open records, campaign finance reform and ending discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

"Committees and the committee process are important parts of the legislative process," Josephs said. "The committee -- made up of a smaller group of legislators who are experts on the subjects reviewed by the committee -- is where the legislation is initially discussed, debated and adjusted before it is sent to the full House for consideration. As chairwoman of the State Government Committee, it is my job to direct the efforts of the committee and set its agenda.

"I have and will continue to focus the committee's efforts on such important state issues as revising the state's Right-to-Know Law, ensuring state investments are not used to facilitate genocide of a people, removing barriers to voting, ensuring honest elections, ending discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation, and improving the campaign finance law, to name a few," Josephs said.

The House State Government Committee reviews legislation on issues ranging from voting and elections to campaign finance reform, and oversees the State Employees' Retirement System, the state lottery commission, state land conveyances, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations and Women's commissions.