As Senate Republicans did several weeks ago, Representative Jim Struzzi is accusing the Wolf Administration of misleading the public about the proposed constitutional amendment that would limit a governor’s powers in an emergency disaster declaration.
Struzzi says the governor and the secretary of the commonwealth “have abused their discretion and inserted language into the constitutional amendment process intended to influence your vote in the May primary.”
The wording as it will appear on the May 18 ballot:
Ballot Question #1
Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration – and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration – through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval?
Ballot Question #2
Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management?
Specifically, Wolf worded the two amendments to say the General Assembly could “unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency…thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval,” and “the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management”.
Struzzi says “Voters need to be aware they were written by the governor’s Department of State using language that is politically charged and prejudicial…As you can see, the governor and secretary of the Commonwealth have abused their discretion and inserted language into the constitutional amendment process intended to influence your vote in the May primary. Amending the Constitution is a process reserved entirely to the people of Pennsylvania, not the partisan interests of this administration. Every amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution since 1790 has been put before the people for their approval. It is in your hands to determine how your government should function.”
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