Pa. senator wants panel to monitor stimulus spending

HARRISBURG - Saying he wanted to ensure the public knew how the huge federal windfall ahead would be spent, a Republican state senator said he would soon introduce legislation to create a bipartisan commission - as other states have done - to monitor the flow of economic-stimulus dollars.

Under Sen. Michael W. Brubaker's bill, a nine-member panel, made up of representatives from the legislature, the governor's office, and the public, would be charged with tracking, monitoring, and reporting on all stimulus money.

"It is apparent that Pennsylvania will be receiving an unprecedented amount of money from the federal government," said Brubaker, of Lancaster County. "It is imperative that we invest that money as per our obligation."

Pennsylvania is in line to receive roughly $10 billion over two years for health care, education, infrastructure, and other programs, according to administration officials.

Administration officials said they did not yet know exactly when the money would begin coming to the state.

The proposal touched off a war of words Friday between the Rendell administration and Senate Republicans.

Gov. Rendell's spokesman, Chuck Ardo, dismissed Brubaker's idea as an excuse for more bureaucracy.

"It's always intriguing when smaller-government Republicans advocate for more bureaucracy," he said.

Brubaker disputed that claim, saying the commission would cost the taxpayers nothing.

"It's not building a bureaucracy; it's a system of accountability," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware), who supports the proposal, suggested Rendell's instances of "lack of transparency" underscored the need for a commission to serve the public's interest.

"Given the governor's recent track record . . . there is no reason to think that he will err on the side of sunshine in this instance," said Pileggi's spokesman, Erik Arneson. He was citing Rendell's failure to provide documentation to the auditor general last month in a controversial government-contracting case.

Brubaker also said he wanted the commission to set up a "neutral" Web site with information about the economic-stimulus program, as at least 10 other states have done.

But apparently Rendell beat him to it. Ardo said the public would be able to monitor Pennsylvania spending on a new economic-stimulus Web site expected to go live this week. He said Rendell would announce details of the new site and its Web address in the coming days.

(The White House has its own site for the stimulus: www.recovery.gov.)

Brubaker's idea of a creating a stimulus-spending body is not novel. At least four other states, including California and Kansas, have already formed task forces or committees to review potential stimulus projects.

Other governors, including Gov. Corzine, have named individuals to oversee implementation of stimulus programs.

Rendell appointed himself to that job.

He said Feb. 22 on Fox News Sunday that he would dedicate the final two years of his term as governor to ensuring the money was well spent.