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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 156

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE RESOLUTION

No. 8 Session of 1999


        INTRODUCED BY MOWERY, KUKOVICH, BOSCOLA, HART, COSTA, SLOCUM AND
           EARLL, JANUARY 13, 1999

        REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 13, 1999

                            A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

     1  Directing the Joint State Government Commission to create a
     2     bipartisan task force to study the feasibility of changing
     3     the date of general primary elections in nonpresidential
     4     nomination years and municipal primary elections from the
     5     third Tuesday in May to the third Tuesday in September.

     6     WHEREAS, The number of registered voters in this Commonwealth
     7  has increased while the number of people voting in elections
     8  continues to decrease; and
     9     WHEREAS, This decrease may be due to, among other things,
    10  negative attitudes resulting from longer campaign seasons and
    11  negative campaigning; and
    12     WHEREAS, The six-month period between the primary in the
    13  spring and the general election in November necessitates the
    14  raising of more money for campaigning than would a two-month
    15  period and thus increases the influence of money on the
    16  political process; therefore be it
    17     RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
    18  General Assembly direct the Joint State Government Commission to
    19  create a bipartisan task force consisting of one member

     1  appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, one member
     2  appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one member
     3  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one
     4  member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
     5  Representatives, one member appointed jointly by the President
     6  pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
     7  Representatives, and one representative from, and designated by,
     8  each of the following: the Bureau of Election of the Department
     9  of State, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania,
    10  the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the Pennsylvania
    11  State Association of Township Commissioners, the Pennsylvania
    12  State Association of Township Supervisors and the Pennsylvania
    13  League of Cities and Municipalities; and be it further
    14     RESOLVED, That the task force shall study the feasibility of
    15  changing general primary elections held during nonpresidential
    16  election years and municipal primary elections from May to
    17  September, including the costs to the State, local, county and
    18  municipal governments to make the change, as well as the impact
    19  such a change could have on reducing election campaigning; and
    20  be it further
    21     RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
    22  its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation to the
    23  General Assembly no later than December 1, 1999.





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