The Problem

 

Pennsylvania’s State Legislature is becoming more and more dysfunctional and has become the main obstacle to progress in our Commonwealth. Budget fights ending in a temporary government shutdown have become a frequent event. Republicans, such as House State Government Committee Chairman Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, are obstructing progress. Rep. Metcalfe has bragged about killing dozens of Democratic-introduced bills without proper consideration or review. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House Rep. Mike Turzai and other House Republicans condone Chairman Metcalfe’s actions to block legislation solely on the basis of its introduction by the party across the aisle, regardless of each bill’s individual merits. This is not how Harrisburg should work.

 

My Solution

 

“Make Harrisburg Work” is a lot more than just a campaign slogan. It is my vision for Harrisburg if elected as State Representative. Once we #TurnPABlue, Democrats will be the majority party in the State Legislature, and it will be Democrats who control the Committees. As State Representative, I will urge Democratic leadership to follow the rules of Congress by giving equal and fair consideration for all bills, regardless of the party who introduced them. I think House Republicans need to listen to Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m Just a Bill” song. That spirit of non-partisan progress is how Harrisburg needs to be run.

 

References

Dermody, Frank. “Democrats Reintroduce Bills Blocked by Partisan Chairman.” PA

House, Democratic House Caucus, 30 Apr. 2018, www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=98120.

 

Micek, John L. “Pa's Epic Political Dysfunction.” PennLive.com, PennLive.com, 25 Jan.

2016, www.blog.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2016/01/this_is_worse_than_illinois_ex.html.

 

Urbina, Ian. “Government Shutdown in Pennsylvania.” The New York Times, The New

York Times, 9 July 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/07/09/us/09cnd-penn.html?mtrref=.