Sep. 14, 2021
HARRISBURG – Continuing efforts to ensure the voices of the people of Pennsylvania are not silenced by those who try to pay for access and influence, Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) submitted testimony today in support of legislation that would establish new rules for lobbyists in Harrisburg.
“We know that the General Assembly belongs to the people of our Commonwealth. The
goal of this package is to reinforce and affirm that principle,” Cutler told the House State Government Committee on Campaign Finance and Elections. “Our lawmaking process
only works effectively when the voices of our constituents drive our decisions and our
votes. Their voices must never be silenced or manipulated by those who attempt to
improperly use influence, access, relationship or money to sway the Legislature.”
Cutler listed 12 pieces of legislation that would increase openness and transparency in the lobbying process, limit the influence of professional lobbyists, and hold lobbyists to a higher standard of ethical conduct.
Some examples of proposed new rules include requiring lobbyists to disclose and register any client conflicts with the Department of State, requiring campaign consultants to register with the state while also prohibiting those consultants from being lobbyists, and prohibiting referral payments to and from lobbyists.
Cutler is credited with authoring the last major lobbying reform to become law in Pennsylvania. However, as he highlighted in his testimony, that was 15 years ago, and the lobbying landscape in Pennsylvania has changed dramatically.
You can read Cutler’s entire testimony here.
Speaker Bryan Cutler
100th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Mike Straub
717-260-6397
mstraub@pahousegop.com
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