For Immediate Release
6/07/07

CONTACT:

Donald Houser
(717) 787-1377

Corman Bill Would Require Online Posting of State Government Contracts

(HARRISBURG) - Stressing that taxpayers should have access to records on state government spending, Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) has introduced legislation to require the State Treasury Department to post contracts, or detailed summaries, on the internet for public review.

Corman said Senate Bill 914 is part of an ongoing effort by the Senate to make state government operations more transparent and improve accountability.

"These contracts are paid for with tax dollars, and therefore I believe that the public has a right to see how their money is being spent," Corman said. "As part of our reform efforts, we are making government records open to the public - it's the right thing to do."

Corman said his bill has the support of Senate Leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), who sponsored legislation to strengthen the state's Open Records Act and require government salaries to be posted on line.

"Sen. Corman's legislation makes great sense and is a perfect follow-up to the Governmental Salary Information Act, Senate Bill 729," Pileggi said. "Posting both this information online would give citizens unprecedented access to review how their tax dollars are spent."

Current law requires state agencies to provide a copy of all contracts $5,000 or more to the Treasury Department within 10 days and to make them available to the public for inspection, but there is no requirement that any information be posted online.

Corman's bill would require the Treasury Department to post contracts or detailed summaries on its website.  In addition it would require the department to: 

• Make the postings in a format that allows the contracts or summaries to be searched by department or agency, parties to the contracts, subject matter, amount, date of execution, and duration.
• Allow for the original copy of the contract to be viewed within five days of a request being made.
• Reduce the time frame for copies from 10 days to five days.
• Retain the documents for at least four years after all disbursements have been made.
• Ensure that the law covers contracts involving the Senate and House of Representatives.