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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Kathy Manderino |
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House policy panels review whether constitutional convention is needed
HARRISBURG, May 5 – State Rep. Kathy Manderino, D-Phila./Montgomery, said the House majority and minority policy committees held a joint hearing on constitutional conventions today.
The groups listened to an expert speak on constitutional and administrative law, past Pennsylvania constitutional conventions, the issues that prompted those conventions and how they relate to the present day. John L. Gedid, vice dean, professor and director of the Law and Government Institute at Widener University School of Law’s Harrisburg campus, gave the presentation.
"The issue of holding a constitutional convention has come up over and over in previous legislative sessions," Manderino said. "Legislators themselves have a lot of questions about the process, so I thought it was important for us to begin a dialogue to get everyone on the same page."
Manderino requested and chaired today’s hearing.
The last Pennsylvania constitutional convention was held 40 years ago. Since America’s independence from Great Britain, the state has held five constitutional conventions: 1776, 1789-90, 1837, 1872-73, and 1967-68.
"Before there can be talk about making changes to the Pennsylvania Constitution, we have to make sure we understand how we got here and what impact such changes could bring to our citizens," said majority Policy Committee Chairman Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne.
"I commend Representative Manderino for taking the lead in bringing a recognized expert to testify before this joint committee hearing. Armed with the history and the facts, we can determine the next logical step."
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