York County News

Rep. Seth Grove of Dover plans to introduce a bill aimed at enhancing transparency in public-private partnerships established through executive orders in Pennsylvania. The legislation seeks to mandate adherence to the state's Right to Know laws and the annual submission of financial reports by such partnerships, including the Team PA Foundation.

Grove argues that while these partnerships can benefit taxpayers, they should not bypass legislative scrutiny. "Public-private partnerships can be beneficial to taxpayers. That doesn’t mean legislative oversight can be side-stepped," Grove stated. He raised concerns about transparency when funds from Team PA were used to cover costs for governors, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, to attend major events like the Super Bowl.

The proposed bill would require these partnerships to file comprehensive financial reports with both the governor and the General Assembly. It would also necessitate the public disclosure of all purchases made for the governor or other officials within 10 business days. Furthermore, compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 would be mandated.

Team PA recently drew attention for financing Gov. Josh Shapiro's second attendance at the Super Bowl as governor. This cost was covered by anonymous donors to a foundation fund called the Pennsylvania Growth Partnership, which aims to promote the governor on a national and international level.

Grove emphasized, "What is known is the governor has had the fortune of attending at least seven sporting events, including the latest Super Bowl, at no cost to himself. Clearly a lot of questions remain. The best way to get answers is through increased transparency at all levels of government."

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