Posted: | October 26, 2015 02:30 PM |
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From: | Representative Jeffrey P. Pyle |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Statewide Elections - Office Recall |
In the near future, I will introduce legislation to provide the People of Pennsylvania a means by which they can reign in the conduct of statewide elected officers who are unresponsive, incompetent or simply no longer represent the views of the people who elected them to office. This legislation will amend the state constitution to allow for recall elections for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor General and State Treasurer. Members may have heard about the recall elections in the State of Wisconsin in 2012. My research shows that Wisconsin is actually one of twenty (20) jurisdictions in the United States (19 states and the District of Columbia) that provide for the recall of elected officials. The process for recall elections vary from state-to-state. Some require a lower percentage of petition signors and action by the General Assembly. Others require a higher percentage of signors and no involvement by the General Assembly. Some states require a showing of criminal conduct or incompetence, while others do not require any prerequisite for the recall at all. My legislation would provide for the following:
Recall of elected officials occurs infrequently. In our nation’s history, there have been three gubernatorial recall elections held in the United States. Most recently was the 2012 recall vote involving Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (who survived the recall attempt). But, in 2003, California voters successfully recalled Governor Gray Davis. In 1921, North Dakota voters recalled their Governor, Attorney General and their Commissioner of Agriculture. However infrequent recall votes might be, I believe that voters should be afforded and opportunity to re-examine their election choices. Thank you for your attention to this correspondence. I urge you to add your name to the list of cosponsors of this milestone legislation. |
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Introduced as HB1749