For Immediate Release
March 17, 2009
Contact: Kristin Crawford 
717-787-4420
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- Press Conference
- Senator Brubaker

Senator Brubaker Introduces Stimulus Oversight Legislation

HARRISBURG -- Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36) introduced legislation today that would provide transparency and oversight of all federal stimulus dollars spent in Pennsylvania.

According to the Council on State Governments, Pennsylvania will be eligible for an estimated $9.5 billion in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through 2011, including $5.5 billion to supplement current state spending for transportation, education, health care and other economic development and infrastructure projects.

"It is imperative that we use this stimulus funding wisely to create jobs and help our most vulnerable citizens, and my legislation would add an important layer of accountability and transparency to all funds received through the federal stimulus bill to help meet these goals," Brubaker said at a Capitol press conference. "There is some disagreement on the exact amount of stimulus dollars that Pennsylvania will receive, and this discrepancy underscores the need for an oversight commission to ensure that the taxpayers get the greatest return on their investment."

Senate Bill 6 would create a bipartisan nine-member commission to provide oversight and accountability for all funds distributed to Pennsylvania through the federal stimulus funding. The Pennsylvania Commission on Stimulus Accountability will be required to track, monitor and report on all monies received from the federal government as part of the stimulus package.

In addition to monitoring all grant programs and state contracts issued as part of the stimulus package, the commission will be asked to make recommendations to enhance the Commonwealth’s ability to create jobs and identify ways to prevent waste and fraud.

The commission will be made up of four members of the governor’s cabinet, one member appointed by each of the four legislative caucuses, and a member of the general public appointed by the governor. The body will be required to meet at least twice a month through Fiscal Year 2009-10 and submit all reports and meeting transcripts to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.

The reports and transcripts will also be available online in a database accessible to the public, as well as searchable information on how stimulus dollars are being spent. The website will offer greater transparency of stimulus spending, Brubaker said.