PA Senate GOP to push reform agenda

The Year of Reform -- 2008 -- turned out to be another year of business as usual as the Pennsylvania Legislature grappled with various corruption scandals and ineffective leadership, especially on the Democratic side in the House.

The good news is that the state Senate, controlled by Republicans, is planning to push a variety of government reform measures that never made it to the governor's desk in 2008.

From a story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review by reporter Brad Bumstead:

"Passage of the reform measures ... is essential to creating a state government which is open and accountable to the people we take an oath of office to serve," said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, who is lieutenant governor.

For a good roundup of the renewed reform agenda, check out the following stories:

"GOP reform bills would post state spending on Web" in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"State GOP senators pushing 'legislative reform bills'" in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"State senators trying again on legislative reforms" in the Allentown Morning Call