Local lawmakers, reacting to an Associated Press report that appeared in Friday’s edition, say they firmly believe that the financial expense records of state legislators should be public and open to scrutiny.
“I am not one of those legislators who wants to shield our expenses from the public,” said state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy Township.
“To the contrary, I believe that every public dollar spent by the General Assembly and any other branch of state government should be open to public scrutiny.”
Everett reacted, along with state Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, and state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, to an AP report about the state Legislature allegedly concealing expenses in finance records pursued by investigative journalists.
The story described thwarted efforts by The Caucus and Spotlight PA to obtain financial records using the state Open Records Law and after filing Right-to-Know requests.
The Caucus describes itself as a watchdog publication. Spotlight PA is an “independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,” according to the Inquirer.
“Who the hell are they talking about?” Wheeland asked. “All our expenses are public, and should be.”
Wheeland said the report didn’t provide enough specific information as to who is allegedly redacting figures or obfuscating them, making it difficult to decipher a financial expense report.
“You should be able to get it,” Wheeland said of any financial expenses filed by a state legislator.
Moreover, he noted, the House of Representatives’ controller goes over figures with a “fine-tooth comb.”
“We need more information on who they’re talking about,” he said. “Are they talking about House or Senate leadership?” he asked.
Yaw said he also is an open book in terms of financial expenses.
“With regard to the expenditure of public funds, I have no issue whatsoever with accountability,” he said. “The caveat is that in detailing accountability, we must preserve the goal of having constituents feel that they can openly contact their (senator or representative) about any issue at anytime.”
Yaw said the right of a person or organization to speak to their government on issues of concern to them is vital. He said the ability for constituents to have private conversations with their lawmakers “needs to be preserved.”
State Reps. Clint Owlett, R-Wellsboro, and Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Lock Haven, were not immediately available for comment.
