PA Taxpayers for Referendum & Better
Government
Pennsylvania needs government changes.
|
 Taxpayers for
Referendum Organization encourages citizens
to focus attention upon proposed improvements to Pennsylvania's government structure. Be an informed Citizen - visit PA League of Women Voters of PA
1.
SENATE BILL #340 is PA citizens' next opportunity to change PA governement. PA Issues (PA Economy League) explains what it would take to have a PA Constitutional Convention. The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition has drafted a Voters' Choice Act (VCA)
to address Pennsylvania's electoral problems. The Voters' Choice Act (VCA) will give greater freedom of choice to the Pennsylvania voters by making it much less difficult for independent and third party candidates to get on the November ballot. Contact Senator Mike Folmer, PA 48th District, at mfolmer@pasen.gov You can help change PA .
SENATE BILL
#340 Lancaster Newspaper 12/2008/ News Article: State Senate member Mike Folmer proposes a constitutional convention as passed by his chamber's Government Committee. If approved by both Senate and House, a question to call such a convention would be placed on the 2009' ballot. Also, voters would elect (3) delegates from each of PA's 50 Senate districts. Legislators and lobbyists would NOT be permitted under this bill. Delegates may consider the revision of any Article of the Pa. State Constitution except Article I, the Declaration of Rights. Potential reforms may include:
Proposed final approval would be by the electorate in 2010' election. 2.
Democracy Rising PA - This site welcomes citizens to *join their email/mailing list. It's free, confidential, and provides political information to keep Pennsylvanians up-to-date on issues needed to improve Pennsylvania's state government. In 2010, PA voters will elect 203 members of the
House, 25 members of the Senate and a new governor. And maybe a referendum on a
Constitution convention. Democracy Rising PA invites concerned citizens to Click here
to sign the petition.
Become current about what needs to be done by reading Tim Potts recommendations . July 6, 2010: Democracy Rising PA calls on gubernatorial candidates to become aggressive about leading the legislature toward improvements in public integrity, including a Constitution convention. In commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the Pay Raise of 2005, Democracy Rising PA advocates reform for higher standards of integrity in state government today. ***PA Taxpayers for Referendum Organization is a call to those who would seek or present research, offer positive and effective goals and work toward accomplishment of successful legislative outcomes in Harrisburg for the citizens of Pennsylvania.
*** History says: Theodore
Roosevelt: “I believe in the initiative and
referendum which should be used not to destroy representative
government, but to correct it whenever it becomes
misrepresentative.” “Charter of
Democracy” Speech, 1912. Abraham Lincoln: “Government is of
the people, for the people and by the people.” Referendum is recall of government if the
government does not act in a responsible way.
As of 2005, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania said it "believes that citizens should have some means of taking direct action if their elected representatives fail to enact laws that voters support, or if they pass laws that are not wanted by the people."
***What is
Referendum? Referendum is the citizen initiative
process allowing legislative laws to be submitted to popular vote. It is a method to redress government. It is essential
for people to control their government. It was designed to strengthen the Democratic
process by the people and for the people.
Currently, 27
states (Citizens In Charge Foundation National Map) have both the
initiative and popular redress.
***Pennsylvania has no statewide Initiative & Referendum rights, except in the Philadelphia and Allegeney Counties (Pittsburgh) that have local Initiative rights. It is the thinking of this organization that Pennsylvania must become the 28th state in these United States to embrace Citizen Initiated Binding Referendum and to include all governmental bodies in our state.
***Referendum in PA is changing: The Lancaster County Home Rule Charter that was prepared by the Lancaster County GSC (Government Study Commission) included Citizen Initiatives and Referendum guidelines. But the Lancaster Home Rule was defeated on the Fall 2008 election ballots. Now, county taxpayers are without the power to "redress" government decisions and must exist with governmental "rule". This is not a government that is truly representative of the people. *** There are pros and cons. There have been examples regarding referendum in other states making the news. While the positive side is seldom extolled, PA citizens will be able to learn from the mistakes of other states to forge initiative guidelines that encourage citizens to become proactive in their state government. ***The power of referendums should be directed toward preserving the best of what remains of our natural environmental resources. For the future, referendum must be designed for the beneficence of our state. Its purpose needs to be directed toward preserving the best of what remains of our natural, undeveloped open-space, environmental resources, and farming life-styles. *** Citizens initiatives and referendums engage and include taxpayers in their government. Referendum is a necessary check and balance for citizens to be able to monitor government. Properly written referendum will encourage government officials to develop the ethic of giving by eliminating financial gain and politics from decisions controlling the destiny of future generations and preventing many of today’s community depravations. Planning for metropolitan areas, transportation, public finance and health must include more citizen involvement. ***Pennsylvania Taxpayers should participate in government realizing “The principal feature of direct democracy is that it limits the influence of numerically small but politically powerful pressure groups.” Referendum allows citizens the right to redress laws, veto laws, and withdraw support from a representative. PA Taxpayers must be able
to intervene with referendum throughout all levels of government when issues
are deemed to impact the public domain, health, safety and
welfare of its people to 1. Ensure citizens the right to legal, timely
redress of government decisions. 2. Provide residents the ability to
determine both the future character and
direction of their municipality through citizen initiated, binding
referendum.
Taxpayers for
Referendum Organization seeks volunteer citizens
to focus attention upon proposed improvements to Pennsylvania government structure:
Taxpayers for Referendum & Better Government Unite Let’s hear from you. All thoughtful entries will be credited. Contact Web Page Editor: Robert A. McLane III Millersville, PAram139@verizon.net |
|||