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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 7, 2020 09:03 AM
From:	Representative Francis X. Ryan
To:	All House members
Subject:	LEGISLATION: State Constitutional Convention for Government Reform - FORMER HB611

As was the case in the mid-twentieth century, the calls for reform to state government are steadily rising. Citizens are increasingly concerned about the size, cost and inefficiency of their government--issues brought to the fore by chronic criminal scandals, serial credit downgrades and spiraling pension debts-- but also by disturbing patterns of insider dealing and rampant crony capitalism. Special interests continue to push unrestrained government spending, unaffordable taxes and job-killing over-regulation. And loopholes in budgetary oversight have fostered a troubling climate of fiscal mismanagement and weak accountability. Unfortunately, major reform has always been difficult to accomplish in Pennsylvania – it’s slow and incremental, and rarely successfully makes its way through the entire General Assembly. Therefore, I plan to reintroduce legislation in the near future which would give the voters the opportunity to decide if there should be a state constitutional convention to reform Pennsylvania’s government structures and practices, as was done in 1967. This legislation would call for a limited constitutional convention similar to the 1967 convention. Under the bill, the ballot for this year’s municipal election would contain a referendum question that will give the voters of the Commonwealth the opportunity to first decide whether or not there should be a constitutional convention. If the majority of voters vote in favor of a constitutional convention, a preparatory committee would immediately make logistical arrangements for the holding of the convention. The convention would consist of 163 members--three delegates from each of the senatorial districts and 13 other members who would consist of members of the General Assembly and be ex-officio members.  All recommendations would require a majority vote of the 163 delegates.  The charge of the constitutional convention would be limited to certain articles and subject matter. The convention cannot propose any changes to Article I, Declaration of Rights or any Article or Section not referenced in the legislation. Specifically, the convention may make recommendations with regard to the following: Sections 3, 4, 8, 16 of Article II which pertain to terms, size or compensation of the General Assembly, Article III, Sections 13, 22, 24 and Subarticle A relating to amendments of legislation, no-bid contracts, and spending without an enacted budget, Article IV as it pertains to the office of Lt. Governor may also be a subject of proposed changes, and Sections 10, 17, and 18 of Article V pertaining to the judiciary. Please join me in co-sponsoring this vital legislation to re-invigorate Pennsylvania government.

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