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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep.
Scott Conklin |
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Conklin holds public forum on constitutional convention
STATE COLLEGE, Jan. 25 – Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin said today he held a public forum to discuss the need for a constitutional convention to be held in Pennsylvania.
The purpose of the forum, held at the State College Municipal Building, was to emphasize the need for legislative reforms specific to the budget process and to establish possible solutions, including those that can only be done by modifying the state's current constitution.
"During the budget impasse, I held a similar forum," said Conklin. "A suggestion was made to make improvements to the budget process itself, but it would take changing the Pennsylvania Constitution in order to institute any change.
"Priority number one is making sure the state is never in that position again, hence why we are here today."
Panelists joining Conklin included Matthew Brouillette, Commonwealth Foundation; Jon Eich, chairman of the Centre County Board of Commissioners; Eric Epstein, coordinator of Rock the Capital; Elizabeth Goreham, State College mayor; Tim Potts, Democracy Rising; and Sara Steelman, Common Cause.
"Bringing together the public and stakeholders from all walks of legislative life is the most direct way to get everyone's suggestions heard," Conklin said. "In order to ensure fundamental changes are made, we need to get them written as part of the state constitution.
"Our process right now is broken. We need to have a clear cut, well defined process in place that takes into account who our budget is passed for: the people of this Commonwealth."
The most recent Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention was held Dec. 1, 1967 through Feb. 28, 1968.
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