Stack Named Democratic Chair of Appropriations Sub-Committee

HARRISBURG, APRIL 24, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack has been appointed the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Sub-committee on Program Performance, a new five-member panel that will evaluate the performance of Pennsylvania’s departments and state-run programs.

“Pennsylvania is facing a massive budget deficit and our citizens are relying more on state services, so we need to look at how effectively and efficiently our agencies are operating,” Stack said. “As the Democratic chairman of this new sub-committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure our tax dollars are being spent wisely while helping our state departments achieve their goals in the best possible ways.”   

The sub-committee will work to increase state departments’ accountability and transparency; identify outcomes and public benefits of the various departments and their programs; and determine whether a department is measuring whether or not a program is achieving its goals and helping the public.

The sub-committee will report its findings to the full Senate Appropriations Committee.

The other panel members are Sens. John Wozniak (D), Republican Chairman Pat Browne (R), Lisa Baker (R) and John Gordner (R). The Appropriations committee chairmen, Jake Corman (R) and Jay Costa (D), will serve as sub-committee ex-officio members.

Stack is also the Democratic vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, which develops the state budget and determines Pennsylvania’s spending priorities.

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