New Report Sets Framework for Meaningful Reform

HARRISBURG, PA - The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention Commission, in conjunction with the Civic Research Alliance, today unveiled "A Citizens' Guide to a Modern Constitutional Convention."

The commission comprises the Commonwealth Foundation, Democracy Rising PA, Common Cause/PA, and the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund. 

The publication examines how a constitutional convention could be developed and managed to broadly engage the people of Pennsylvania and diminish the impact of traditional powerbrokers, while maximizing the probability of creating a governmental structure that serves the citizens well into the future.

"We offer this report as a catalyst for broad public debate on how to improve and modernize state and local government, and how such reforms can best be accomplished," said commission member Matt Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation. "This discussion is long overdue, as evidenced not only by the scandalous nature of state and local government, but also the mismanagement of taxpayers' money and the unwillingness of politicians to enact common-sense reforms on their own accord."

"This report strengthens the hands of lawmakers and citizens who understand the need for a Constitutional Convention," added commission member Tim Potts, co-founder of Democracy Rising PA.  "Not only is a convention necessary, but technology makes it possible to have the most open, inclusive and well-informed debate in the history of the Commonwealth. After years of unrelenting scandal, Pennsylvania citizens deserve no less."

"There has been a growing sense that the range, depth and interrelatedness of the problems currently confronting Pennsylvania's governmental structures are too complex to deal with in a piecemeal manner," noted commission member Barry Kauffman of Common Cause/PA. "Indeed, a comprehensive review and rewrite may be necessary for the Keystone state to achieve more effective, more efficient, more nimble, open, responsive and accountable government."

EDITORS NOTE: To request a copy of the full report or the executive summary, contact the Commonwealth Foundation at 717-671-1901 or by email. The report is available online here.

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The Commonwealth Foundation is an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, PA.