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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Babette Josephs State Rep. Mike Sturla |
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Josephs, Sturla introduce bill to prevent gubernatorial candidates from using Attorney General's Office as stepping stone
HARRISBURG, Jan. 17 – State Reps. Babette Josephs and Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, have introduced a bill that would require Pennsylvania's state attorney general to wait at least four years after leaving office before seeking election as governor.
The proposal (H.B. 2118) would address concerns of an attorney general using the authority of the office to advance political goals and a gubernatorial campaign while still in office.
"The Office of Attorney General is of utmost importance to the people of Pennsylvania," Josephs said. "We need attorneys general who are passionate about justice. We want people who see the office as a career destination in and of itself. We should be encouraging candidates who want to be the lawyer of all the people to run for that job, not just folks who want to be in another ‘higher’ office. This bill is an attempt to put some checks into place to help cultivate candidates whom we know want to serve in this incredibly significant job."
The legislators said that it has been suggested in the media that charges were not filed against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky as quickly as they were in other child molestation cases because Corbett was running for governor.
“This measure will ensure that Pennsylvania’s future attorney generals’ actions will be free of any politically motivated prosecutions, or even the perception of them. This critical step must be adopted if we ever hope to restore the public's confidence in the attorney general’s office," Sturla said.
In Virginia, although state law does not require it, attorneys general have voluntarily resigned to avoid the appearance of a conflict, a tradition that dates back to the 1980s. Other states have more formal and stringent requirements in law.
Should the measure be passed, it would add an amendment to the state constitution similar to a prohibition that already prevents the state treasurer from running for state auditor general within four years of leaving office. Josephs said the prohibition exists to keep the auditor general from being placed in the inappropriate position of having to audit treasury accounts and decisions from when he or she served as treasurer. The four-year gap eliminates the potential conflict.
In order to become part of the constitution, the bill would have to pass the General Assembly in two successive legislative sessions and be approved by voters in a statewide referendum.
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