GOP lawmakers call for Constitutional Convention

Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester), Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon), Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lancaster), and state Sens. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin/York) and Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon/Berks) are calling for Constitutional Convention to reform state government.

"I am sponsoring House Bill 2723, which would place a question on the November 2009 ballot seeking voter approval for a Constitutional Convention," Schroder said at a Capitol news conference. "My legislation would enlist citizens of the commonwealth to become delegates to the convention who would draft recommendations for changes to the state's constitution. These recommendations would then be presented to the voters for approval."

Schroder said recent scandals concerning bonuses for legislative staffers, grand jury investigations and charges against state officials signal a need for change in the way business is conducted in Harrisburg.

"The citizens of Pennsylvania are losing faith in state government and I believe they deserve better," said Schroder. "My bill aims to restore integrity in Harrisburg by putting the power in the hands of the citizens."

Swanger said it is time to put things into the hands of the people for whom members of the General Assembly work. The last constitutional convention was held in 1967.

"In the history of Pennsylvania, the longest we have gone between Constitutional Conventions is 47 years," Swanger added. "While the time elapsed since the last convention falls short of that number, the gravity of our current situation and the need for such a gathering eclipses it."

Two Pennsylvania state senators have authored similar legislation calling for Constitutional Conventions.

"Article I, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution states that 'all power is inherent in the people…they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper,'" Piccola said. "If the citizens of this Commonwealth truly want to address the systemic problems that we face, the best approach is to convene a constitutional convention."

Folmer offered the reminder that House and Senate members are merely employees of the voters for whom they work.

"Both the United States' and Pennsylvania's Constitutions begin with three very important words, 'We The People.' A Constitutional Convention will give the people more of a say in the reforms that are important to them, which will go a long way to restoring their faith and trust in state government," Folmer said.

According to a recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, only 32 percent of Pennsylvania voters approve of the way that the state legislature is handling its job.