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LUZERNE — If the people of Pennsylvania want to ”fix their government,” two state representatives Wednesday offered a means to accomplish that goal — hold a constitutional convention.
State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, detailed his support of a new proposal to host a limited constitutional convention in Pennsylvania, similar to the one that was hosted in 1967.
At a news conference at Kaufer’s office on Main Street in Luzerne, Kaufer joined Rep. Stephen Bloom, R-Carlisle, author of the proposal, to explain what a convention could look like.
“Year after year, the public demands major reforms in state government, and yet these reforms fail to make their way through the legislative process,” Kaufer said. “It’s time to allow the people of Pennsylvania to fix their government.”
House Bill 1967 would call for a limited constitutional convention, which could amend the state constitution to address the size of the Legislature, the state budget process and other areas. A companion bill, Senate Bill 867, has been introduced in the Senate.
The proposal would first allow voters to decide if there should be a constitutional convention via referendum. If approved, the 163-member convention would be formed.
All final recommendations would require majority support from the 163 delegates. Those recommendations would then be placed on the ballot for approval or rejection by voters.
“A constitutional convention would be an opportunity for citizens who are frustrated with our broken state government to take a very direct role in historic government change,” Bloom said. “Convention delegates would vote on recommended changes to the state’s constitution, but the final decision would really be left up to Pennsylvania voters. A convention would be an opportunity for citizens to take a very direct role in historic government change.”
Kaufer and Bloom said it is critical to get the word out on the proposal to allow voters to become aware of the possibility.
“For years, the public has been demanding some of the same major reforms, and yet these reforms continually fail to make their way through the legislative process,” Kaufer said. “Look no further than the state budget stalemates which we’ve experienced over the past few years, or property tax reform and school funding, or redistricting reform. And the list goes on. There are countless issues which a vast majority of Pennsylvanians agree upon, but, due to party politics, are never enacted into law.”
Bloom, who announced he is running for the Republican nomination in the 11th Congressional District in 2018, has introduced legislation in the House, which Kaufer co-sponsored, calling for a limited constitutional convention for government reform to make changes on some major issues which he said seemingly have no legislative fix.
“I’m talking about election reform, campaign finance reform, requiring a zero-based budgeting approach,” Kaufer said.
Pennsylvania has not held a constitutional convention since 1967. Kaufer said the people of Pennsylvania have an historic opportunity to change the way that their government works — “to make sure it is working for them, as it is meant to, and not for party leaders and special interests.”
Bloom said there has not been much opposition to the proposal in the Legislature. He and Kaufer said the “time is now” to reform state government and they hope the people support it.
“If folks like the way Pennsylvania government is operating now, they shouldn’t support this,” Kaufer said. “If not, then this is long overdue.”
Bloom said it’s about the people taking control of their government. He said the proposal is receiving some bipartisan support.
“This is not a Democrat or Republican issue,” he said.