Posted: | January 23, 2015 09:09 AM |
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From: | Representative Scott Conklin |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Citizens Constitutional Convention (Formerly HB989) |
In the near future, I intend to re-introduce legislation (former House Bill 989) to place a referendum question on the ballot during the General Election on November 3, 2015, to ascertain whether voters support convening a Citizens Constitutional Convention. The argument for calling a state constitutional convention is clear and convincing. It has been more than 140 years since the last time Pennsylvania's entire constitution was subject to serious revision. One cannot imagine a company conducting over $70 billion worth of business and employing over 100,000 workers without routinely reviewing and updating its strategic plan. Although Pennsylvania’s last constitutional convention was in 1967, it was limited in scope. The Commonwealth has not developed a new plan, much less updated its old one, since 1873. The last time the Pennsylvania Constitution was comprehensively reviewed, Ulysses Grant was President of the United States, which clearly illustrates that Pennsylvania’s Constitution is a legal fossil ill-equipped to deal with the issues and problems of the 21st century. The following outlines the main points of this legislation:
A Citizens Constitutional Convention is the most important reform this Commonwealth could undertake. It fulfills the self-governance prophecy upon which this country was built, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. Previous Co-Sponsors: CARROLL, GIBBONS, KORTZ, MAHONEY, SANTARSIERO |
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Introduced as HB574