For Immediate Release
July 2, 2010
Contact: Kristin Crawford
(717) 787-4420
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Brubaker Proposal Would Require Cost-Effective Travel for State Employees 

HARRISBURG – Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36) proposed legislation this week that would require Senate and state employees to use the most cost-effective method of travel for state business. 

Senate Bill 1428 would establish and implement a least-cost travel policy for state employees. The policy would direct state agencies to the use a state vehicle or rental vehicle if that method of transportation is determined to be the more cost-effective method of travel. 

Brubaker also introduced Senate Resolution 368, which would direct the Senate’s Committee on Management Operations to study mileage reimbursement for privately-owned vehicles and implement a least-cost travel policy for state vehicle travel when traveling for Senate business. Brubaker urged the House of Representative to consider passing a similar resolution. 

"It is important to ensure that we spend every dollar efficiently, including transportation costs," Brubaker said. "We should make every effort to minimize the amount of money we spend on travel, and these proposals would ensure that no taxpayer money is wasted on travel due to inefficiency." 

Changing the state travel policy to require state employees to use the most cost-effective method of transportation could create $8 to $12 million in savings per year, Brubaker said. 

The Commonwealth spent approximately $24 million on mileage reimbursement for state employees who used their personal vehicles for state travel in 2008. 

The measures to cut state travel costs was one of the recommendations offered this week by the Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission. 

"As part of our final report, the Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission was pleased to recognize Senator Brubaker’s legislation to improve overall management and travel policy for the state vehicle fleet," said Senator David G. Argall (R-29), who chaired the commission.  "Effective fleet management is a cooperative effort, and this legislation will produce significant results and cost savings to Pennsylvania’s taxpayers."