HARRISBURG – A resolution to ensure transparency and uphold the balance of power between legislative branches of government was adopted by the Pennsylvania Senate today, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41).
Senate Resolution 334 was introduced in response to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Secretary, Patrick M. Browne refusing to comply with the subpoena issued by the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee on July 10, 2024.
For more than a year and a half, information from the Secretary of Revenue has been sought regarding the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ). With the Senate’s adoption of Senate Resolution 334, the Secretary of Revenue must now appear before the bar of the Senate for questioning within three legislative days.
While it did not stop the Senate from taking action on Senate Resolution 334, the Shapiro Administration has just this week filed a lawsuit against the Senate in an effort to continue to prevent questions regarding the NIZ.
“The Shapiro Administration’s move to block the Senate from obtaining information related to the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) is not only premature but legal overkill and raises the question, ‘What is Gov. Shapiro and his Secretary of Revenue hiding?’ It is clear based on the hasty nature in which the lawsuit was filed that Gov. Shapiro and members of his administration could be using loopholes to avoid transparency,” said Ward. “Despite official requests for information by legislative officials, including the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, the Shapiro Administration has withheld the information regarding how the NIZ operates and generates money. Since the inception of the NIZ, more than $700 million has been diverted from the General Fund. This is money that could be used to support day cares, nursing homes, cost of living adjustments for teacher pensions and schools.”
“The purpose of this Resolution is to have the Revenue Secretary come and explain why he cannot comply with the Senate subpoena that was issued earlier this year,” Pittman said. “We have asked for the information by every other means and our efforts have continually been thwarted. This is a continuation of a thoughtful, methodical process that we have undertaken in order to fulfill our obligation to review programs that we authorize by statute. It is imperative that the legislature has accurate and complete information.”
With the legislative authority laid forth in the Pennsylvania Constitution, the legislative branch has the responsibility to review programs established in statute and determine what changes, modifications or eliminations may need to take place.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erica Clayton Wright (Sen. Ward) ewright@pasen.gov
Kate Eckhart Flessner (Sen. Pittman) kflessner@pasen.gov