Transparent Times A Publication of the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Representative Daryl D. Metcalfe, Chairman

february 2017

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House State Government Committee Begins 2017-18 Legislative Session

Known as Pennsylvania’s No. 1 conservative of Democrats are from the region. legislator, Representative Daryl Metcalfe Although it is still very early in the session, (R-Butler) will continue to serve as Chairman Chairman Metcalfe has already convened two of the State Government Committee in the voting meetings for the consideration of new 2017-18 legislative session. bills. One of these bills is House Bill 157, which As Chairman of the House State Government modernizes the Pennsylvania History Code. Committee since 2011, Representative Through House Bill 157, the Pennsylvania State Metcalfe has navigated the Republican Archives will be able to more easily obtain lost members of the committee through critical, artifacts pertinent to Pennsylvania’s history. and often contentious issues. Chairman The members of the House State Government Metcalfe’s committee has jurisdiction over a Committee unanimously adopted this broad range of legislative topics that impact legislation and it passed unanimously on the Pennsylvania’s taxpayers, such as solving House floor. Pennsylvania’s $62 billion pension crisis, Because the State Government Committee reducing the number of legislators elected has oversight over a broad range of legislative to the General Assembly, prohibiting public issues, Chairman Metcalfe monitors various unions from collecting political money using departments to ensure that these laws are taxpayer-funded resources, and ensuring free obeyed. Chairman Metcalfe recently sent and fair elections. a letter to Pennsylvania’s Department of At the beginning of the legislative session, Environmental Protection (DEP) because “new Chairman Metcalfe convened a brief voting regulations are being offered not through meeting to approve his proposed rules adherence to the Regulatory Review Act, but that will govern the conduct of the House through the issuance of general operating State Government Committee meetings. permit revisions.” Representative Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) Chairman Metcalfe pointed out that the new will serve as the newly-appointed Minority rules put in place by DEP are costly to taxpayers Chairman of the Democrats appointed to the and that sidestepping the procedures of committee. The Committee consists of 16 the Regulatory Review Act shows a “lack of Republicans and 11 Democrats. The majority transparency, accountability and judicious use of regulatory authority.” Metcalfe continued, “I invite you to share with me and my colleagues at your earliest convenience your plan to rectify this blatant disregard for the law.” Another area the State Government Committee has oversight of is Procurement Code legislation. Chairman Metcalfe sent a letter to Gov. expressing his concern that the Department of Human Services (DHS) had not complied with Pennsylvania’s Procurement Code. In the re-procurement of a multi-billion dollar DHS contract, it was discovered that “DHS admitted that there was a significant math error that caused a secret set of awards, never publically announced to be rescinded.” Chairman Metcalfe urged the governor to “consider taking any steps necessary to rescind these awards and begin this procurement afresh, to ensure that the process is fair, competitive and transparent.” The State Government Committee also maintains oversight of state and federal relations. Most recently, House Resolution 43 passed unanimously from the committee, which condemns recent anti-Israel actions of the United Nations Security Council and calls on the current and future presidential administrations to support Israel. Last December, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution objecting to Israel’s settlement expansion. The ambassador could have blocked this resolution, but did not. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed dissatisfaction that the United States did not support Israel in the United Nations Security Council. Contact Me In this new legislative session, Representative Metcalfe [email protected] will continue to use his role as Chairman of the House  ______ State Government Committee to protect the rights and represent the interests of law abiding taxpayers across Cranberry Township Cranberry Twp. Municipal Building the Commonwealth. 2525 Rochester Rd., Suite 201 Cranberry Township, PA 16066 Phone: (724) 772-3110

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