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For Immediate Release
September 17, 2008
Contact: Joe Sterns
717-787-5708
(Cell) 717-497-0806
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Folmer's Con Con Legislation Approved by Senate State
Government Committee
HARRISBURG (September 17, 2008) – The Senate State Government
Committee today overwhelmingly approved Sen. Mike Folmer's (R-Lebanon)
legislation enabling a citizens' constitutional convention.
"I am very pleased that we've taken an important step toward
giving the people their government back," Folmer said. "A citizens'
Constitutional Convention is the only way to enact meaningful reform and restore
faith in state government."
Under Folmer's Senate Bill 1290, which passed the committee
10-1, the question of whether or not to have a constitutional convention would
be put on the ballot in the 2009 general election. At the same time, voters
would have the opportunity to elect three delegates from each of the
Commonwealth's 50 State Senate districts. Candidates would have to be at least
18 years old.
If approved by a majority of voters, the convention would
convene December 9, 2009 and adjourn September 2010. Delegates could consider
revising any article of the state Constitution except Article I, the Declaration
of Rights. Potential reforms would include, but not be limited to: term limits;
fair redistricting; prohibiting lame duck sessions; empowering citizens with
initiative, referendum, and recall; and reducing the size of the legislature.
All proposed revisions to the state Constitution would need the
approval of 2/3 of the convention delegates, after which they would be submitted
to the electorate at the 2010 General Election, with majority approval needed
for ratification.
While two other bills approved by the committee would also
enable a constitutional convention, Folmer's is the only measure establishing a
citizens' constitutional convention by:
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Barring legislators and registered lobbyists from
participating.
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Electing delegates in a nonpartisan fashion.
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Paying delegates a salary equal to that of legislators, so
that common people can afford to serve.
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Prohibiting lobbying of individual delegates.
The convention would be funded with a transfer of $20 million
from the General Assembly's non-lapsing leadership accounts; thus neither a tax
increase nor a decrease in funding for state programs would be necessary.
All three constitutional bills now await either referral to
another committee or a vote by the full Senate.
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