POLITICAL NOTEBOOK
A provision included in the new state budget will help fundamentally reform Pennsylvania's budgeting process while increasing transparency and accountability in state government, according to Sen.
Jane Orie, R-40th.Act 50 of 2009 establishes an independent fiscal office — a non-partisan, bicameral agency — with expertise in financial matters, she said.The fiscal office will have access to the same agency and department financial information as the governor's budget office.One of the key duties of this office would be to set a binding revenue estimate by June 15 for the coming fiscal year. Orie said this would clearly set the parameters by which the Legislature can consider a spending plan."Right now, the governor alone certifies a revenue estimate," she said. "The budget process would be much more transparent and streamlined if everyone went forward knowing exactly how much money was available."State agencies and departments will be required to submit their budget requests to the independent fiscal office at the same time they submit them to the Office of the Budget.Pennsylvania is currently one of only eight states where the Legislature does not receive the agency budget requests.The fiscal office also would develop performance measures for state programs and departments and evaluate the performance reviews of those programs and departments as reported by the administration.——-—State Sen.
Mary Jo White, R-21st, chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, last week issued the following statement in response to the Department of Environmental Protection's release of a draft climate change action plan:"I commend the work of the members of the Climate Change Advisory Committee, and recognize that a significant amount of time and effort has gone into the draft action plan to date."However, it is important to note that today is the deadline for DEP to issue a final climate change action plan — not a draft. The time frame laid out in Act 70 of 2008 is a statutory obligation on DEP, not a mere suggestion from the legislature."DEP was aware of their obligation, and I remain mystified why they have continually obstructed legislation that would have given DEP more time and the public more input into the action plan."I am also very concerned with reports that DEP is attempting to dissuade members of the Climate Change Advisory Committee from participating in or crafting a minority report."When we drafted the language to create an Advisory Committee in the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, we intended the committee to function independently of DEP."The law mandates that the report consider all views relative to climate change, and specifically encourages any member to put forth a minority report should the committee fail to reach a consensus on what steps Pennsylvania needs to take to address climate change."Many of the recommendations put forth by DEP will require legislative approval. It is imperative, therefore, that all views and comments be considered by DEP, and that such an important report receives the deliberation it deserves."
