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Josephs announces meetings for State Government Committee

Busy schedule planned on various issues

HARRISBURG, June 5 – Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., has announced the House State Government Committee will meet to discuss several significant issues currently before the committee and of interest to constituents and fellow members of the House of Representatives.

Josephs, the chairwoman of the State Government Committee, has outlined several bills that will be discussed, including one proposal that would set up a commission to study possible changes to the state constitution.

"There are a number of proposed changes involving how the government functions at its most basic level," Josephs said. "So it is of the utmost importance that we do not rush, but give each bill the discussion it deserves."

Josephs will hold a State Government Committee meeting Wednesday, June 6, to discuss, among other items, legislation (H.B. 1179) introduced by Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Phila. Evans' bill would create a temporary commission to review the Pennsylvania Constitution and recommend possible changes. A Pennsylvania constitutional convention has not been held since 1968.

"I am committed to ensuring that the people of Pennsylvania have the most efficient government possible," Josephs said. "However changes to our constitution will survive long after we are gone, so we must ensure that we are doing what is best for our state."

Josephs' committee will hold a second meeting next week to discuss the issue of riparian rights and waterfront development at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, in 60 East Wing of the Capitol.

A third meeting also will be held next week, this one on moving up the date of the presidential primary election. The public hearing will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 14 in Room 205, Ryan Office Building.

"Changing the date of the presidential primary in Pennsylvania could potentially be very influential in the selection of the candidates," Josephs said. "We have to weigh the pros and cons and determine the best situation for Pennsylvania citizens."

The hearing stems from several proposals before the committee that would give Pennsylvania voters more political power in the choice of the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees by moving the primary to earlier in the year.

A fourth meeting is being planned in the coming weeks that would review proposed open-records legislation. The time and date of the hearing has not been confirmed.