Accord seen near on Pa. open-records bill

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, February, 2008 | by Angela Couloumbis Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau

HARRISBURG - After protracted debate, the House and Senate appeared on the brink of agreement late yesterday on a bill that would greatly expand the public's access to government documents and shed Pennsylvania's distinction as having one of the worst open-records laws in the nation. The bill, approved unanimously by the House last night, could be voted on by the Senate as early as today.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) said he supported the bill and would ask the Senate to approve it. "This is a happy day for Pennsylvania," said Rep. John Maher (R., Allegheny). "The long, long road toward expanding open records is about to be a journey completed." Added House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D., Greene): "I think our commonwealth will go to the...