Wouldn’t It Make Sense . . .

Wouldn’t it Make Sense to Put a Guy with a Ph.D. in Finance on the Finance Committee?

January 28, 2015:

At the start of each session in the General Assembly, members receive committee assignments. The assignments are given out based on request and at the discretion of caucus leadership. The discretion part means that some choices cause outside observers to scratch their heads.

For example, for the last two sessions Rep. John McGinnis (R-Blair) has requested assignment to the Finance Committee, which is responsible for tax policy. Rep. McGinnis has a Ph.D. in Finance, is a Certified Financial Analyst and a Certified Financial Planner. Despite his stellar qualifications, he has been assigned to committees where his expertise will likely be underutilized.

If Pennsylvania is going to overcome the challenges ahead, House and Senate leadership have to put the expertise of their members to the best possible use. In this instance, House leadership failed that task miserably.

The composition of committees is too often overlooked, but it has a significant bearing on the type of legislation that ultimately comes up for a vote.

If you want to find out more about who is chairing and members of Committees, you can find the House list here, and the Senate list here. Take a few minutes and familiarize yourself with the composition of the various committees. The House Appropriations and Finance Committees and their Senate counterparts will be especially important in the coming months due to their respective roles in the budget and taxation process.

Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania (CAP) is a non-profit organization founded to raise the standard of living of all Pennsylvanians by restoring limited government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility. By empowering the Commonwealth’s employers and taxpayers to break state government’s "Iron Triangle" of career politicians, bureaucrats, and Big Government lobbyists, this restoration will occur and Pennsylvania will prosper.