Reform Activist Calls For More Timely Audit Of Legislature

By Andrew Staub | PA Independent

Eric Epstein wants to know how much of a financial reserve the state Legislature has squirreled away, and he wants the answer by the end of this month.

The coordinator of Rock the Capital, a government reform group, on Wednesday blasted the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission for failing to release an annual report that details the General Assembly’s spending and usually reveals lawmakers are sitting on sizable stash of cash.

Epstein contacted state Rep. Mark Keller, the chairman of the commission, and requested that the audit be released by the end of January.

“In recent years, Pennsylvania citizens have witnessed a sad parade of scandals and lapses of judgment by public officials. During this period the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission has delayed the release of the Legislature’s Annual Audit,” Epstein wrote in message to Keller that also urged lawmakers to enact various reforms mentioned in previous audit reports.

Keller, R-Perry, said he’s spoken with the audit firm and indicated that the report is on its way.

“I’m diligently trying to make this happen as quickly as possible,” he said, adding that he “absolutely” believes the meeting to accept and release the audit would happen this month.

The law that created the commission says the Legislature and its service agencies must be audited at least once a year, but it does not specifically say the report must be released by December. Recent history, though, shows that’s often when it occurs.

Four of the past seven audits looking at the prior fiscal year were released in December. Two were released in March. Last year’s report ran well behind the norm. It wasn’t released until June.

That report showed the Legislature had a reserve fund of more than $153 million as of June 30, 2013. At the time of the report’s release, Pennsylvania was facing a two-year deficit of $1.4 billion.

This year, according to the Independent Fiscal Office, the state is looking at a bigger shortfall. It again raises the question of whether lawmakers could dip into their piggy bank to help close the gap.

First, they have to see the audit to find out how much is stashed away. Perhaps they’ll know by the end of the month.

“It’s still late,” Epstein said, “but it’s an improvement over previous years, and it’s a step in the right direction.”