HB 2175 Would Itemize Capital Project — A bill was re-committed, today, Feb. 15, to the State House Appropriations Committee that would require the Governor to itemize capital projects.
The bill, HB 2175, was submitted Feb. 7 by Mike Turzai (R-28) who is majority floor leader and was almost certainly a response to legislation proposed by Democrat Rosita Youngblood of the 128th District, according to Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi.
Further it came soon after Tea Party candidates such as Rogers Howard who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi in the 9th District GOP primary criticized certain expenditures by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The program is specifically addressed in the bill.
To quote the bill:
At least once each legislative session, the Governor shall submit a capital project itemization bill to the General Assembly specifically itemizing the capital projects to be financed from the proceeds of obligations of the Commonwealth. No redevelopment assistance capital project may receive funds unless the project was itemized in a capital budget project itemization bill, a capital budget bill or a capital project itemization bill enacted within ten years of the date the project is approved under section 318 or the project has been approved by the secretary on or before December 31, 2011.
Kudos Mr. Howard and Ms. Youngblood.