Jul. 10, 2024

HARRISBURG – Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) today released the following statement in response to House Democrat leadership stalling a scheduled House Appropriations Committee meeting on Tuesday evening before recessing shortly before 1 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, without taking any action:

“Once again, the Democrat majority has resorted to shady and deceptive tactics in an attempt to force their partisan agenda through without transparency. For the second time, Democrats held a committee meeting in the dead of night, attempting to vote on legislation while most Pennsylvanians are unaware and tucked in their beds.

“For the second straight year, the state budget is at another impasse. In usual House Democrat fashion, last evening they called a late-night committee meeting without sharing an agenda with all members of the committee. The Democratic chairman left the committee members and interested parties in limbo as he put the meeting on hold until after midnight without communication or justification.

“This is another reminder of the need to pass my legislation, House Resolution 330, which would prohibit committee votes after 11 p.m. just as is the case for the full House. The House Democrats have refused to allow for a vote on the resolution since it was introduced last fall.

“We must finally and formally address this issue in the House rules to ensure that the majority can no longer attempt to operate in darkness. These types of committee meetings are an insult to democracy and a disservice to the body and the people of Pennsylvania. No legislation should be rushed and voted on in the cover of darkness and away from the eyes of the public.”

The 48th Legislative District in Washington County covers the city of Washington; Amwell, part of Carroll (Districts 3, 4 and 5), East Finley, Fallowfield, Morris, North Franklin, part of North Strabane (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), Nottingham, Somerset, South Franklin, South Strabane and West Finley townships; and the boroughs of Donora, East Washington and Green Hills.

Representative Tim O’Neal
48th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
RepONeal.com / Facebook.com/RepTimONeal
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