MELLOW APPLAUDS STATE SENATE REFORM HARRISBURG, January 2, 2007 – Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow today praised new Senate rule changes that will make the Senate more open and accessible to the public. “Hopefully, these bold new changes foreshadow a new era of openness and bipartisanship,” Mellow said. “I am encouraged that majority Republicans welcomed Democratic input and included many of our proposals in these new rules. “I look forward to working with this new Republican Leadership team in the upcoming legislative session.” The Lackawanna County lawmaker added that while the new Senate rules are a “great first step,” he believes there are numerous other reforms the state Senate should consider in the upcoming session. Mellow also commended Sen. Vincent Fumo (D-Phila.), who first proposed many of the reforms that were adopted as part of the state Senate’s new institutional rules. Under the new Senate rules: Session times will be limited to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Amendments will be posted to the Internet before being offered on the Senate floor. The Senate will wait at least six hours before voting on an amended bill or a conference committee report. All roll call votes will be posted on the Internet as soon as possible after a vote, but always within 24 hours of a vote. Committee votes on bills will be posted on the Internet within 48 hours of the vote. The Senate’s Legislative Journal – which includes the full text of all floor debates – will be posted on the Internet upon Senate approval of the Journal or within 45 days, whichever is earlier. An updated fiscal note will be prepared if a bill is amended after consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee, if the amendment has a fiscal impact.