State Sen.

Jane Orie, R-40th, plans to introduce a package of legislation designed to increase the opportunity for public scrutiny on, and reduce conflicts of interest in, state government.Orie, who this week announced her plan to introduce four bills, said public outcry largely led to her action."Over the past year,"she said, "the citizens of Pennsylvania sent the General Assembly and all elected officials a clear message that secrecy and conflicts of interest will not be tolerated, and that government must be open and accountable."One bill would prohibit an elected state official from accepting a paid position with any state agency until at least two years after that person has left office.A second piece of legislation would require the consent of the Senate for any appointee to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board."I believe this legislation is necessary to insure that any nomination is fully and publicly evaluated,"Orie said, "and to restrict the opportunity for any type of quid pro quo."Orie's third bill would prohibit any elected state official from lending his or her name or likeness to an event designed to raise funds for another individual who is registered as a lobbyist.The final piece of legislation would prohibit any state agency from hiring a lobbyist to talk to another state agency.———

U.S. Rep. <B>Phil English</B>, R-3rd, hailed passage Wednesday in the House of Representatives of bipartisan legislation to strengthen the national security review process and reform the functions of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.English co-sponsored the bill — the National Security Foreign Investment Reform and Strengthened Transparency Act of 2007 — which the House approved.He noted the bill was introduced after last April's disclosure of the proposed sale of operations of six American seaports by Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company of London to Dubai Ports World, a government owned company from the United Arab Emirates.In response, the House passed legislation to provide more transparency and accountability to the process by which Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States reviews foreign direct investment.The Senate did not act on the House bill.English said the National Security FIRST Act of 2007 would strengthen and reform the CFIUS process by establishing a mandatory 45-day investigation for all acquisitions involving foreign governments.It would also require CFIUS to consult the director of national intelligence; establish automatic congressional notification after each investigation; and require the Treasury and Homeland Security secretaries or deputy secretaries to sign off on all approvals.———

Rep. <B>Dick Stevenson</B>, R-8th, recently was recognized by House Republican Whip David Argall<B>,</B> R-Berks, for having perfect attendance during the 2005-06 legislative session.This is the second consecutive session Stevenson has been honored for perfect attendance.———

State Rep. <B>Daryl Metcalfe</B>, R-12th, will host a legislative breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Evans City Borough Municipal Building, 204-B South Jackson Street, Evans City.Those interested in attending the breakfast should contact Metcalfe's district office at 724-772-3110 for information and to make reservations———

The Web site of U.S. Rep. <B>Phil English</B>, R-3rd, was recently honored as one of the best in Congress.The site, www.house.gov/english, was one of 615 evaluated in The 2006 Gold Mouse Report: Recognizing the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill, which analyzed Web sites of all Senate and House members, committees and official leadership sites.The Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit, non-partisan management consulting and research organization in Washington, D.C., evaluated the sites.Eighty-five Web sites were cited in 2006, with 18 winning Gold, 27 winning Silver, and 40 winning Bronze Mouse Awards.English's Web site got a bronze award.The report, the 2006 Gold Mouse Report: Recognizing the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill, is available on the Congressional Management Foundation's Web site at www.cmfweb.org.