For Immediate Release
July 18, 2008
Contact:  Owen Thomas
Ph: 717-787-8927
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Senator Earll to Sign Special Session Petition on Ethics Reform

ERIE – In the wake of the State Attorney General announcing grand jury presentments uncovering a systematic abuse of taxpayer dollars for campaign purposes, Senator Jane Earll announced today she will sign a petition circulated by Senator Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin/York) calling upon Governor Rendell to call a special session of the legislature to address ethics reform.

"When the legislature fails to police its own activities, and allows arrogance, greed and self-enrichment to flourish in the hands of a few," Earll said, "it is time not only to cast a rhetorical dagger into the heart of corruption, but also to seize this opportunity to weed it out, entirely and without delay."

Under Article II, Section 4 of the state Constitution, a Governor must call a special session of the legislature if a majority of members from both the Senate and House request such a session. The ethics reform petition to be signed by Senator Earll calls for a special session to consider any and all legislation necessary to reform the General Assembly and the legislative process, and to improve the ethical governance of Pennsylvania.