From Fair Districts PA (http://www.fairdistrictspa.com):
Who expected that PA House legislative rules would become a statewide, even national story? Yet a month after the January 3 Swearing-In Day, the House has still not voted on rules for the 2023-2024 session.
Thank you to ALL who attended or submitted written comments for Speaker Mark Rozzi’s Listening Tour stops in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, State College and Wilkes-Barre. Despite very short notice and almost no public outreach by the Listening Tour itself, we filled the rooms and programs in each place.
The message was clear: Pennsylvanians DO care about legislative rules, want to be heard in the legislative process, and want rules that give bipartisan solutions a clear path toward a final vote. There were many stories of frustration and sadness about particular issues of great importance ignored for far too long, or used for leverage in a partisan game. Pennsylvanians want better from those elected to represent us.
At each stop, multiple Fair Districts PA supporters spoke. At each, there was mention of our report, Dysfunction by Design, and of the FDPA proposed rule changes. Spokespersons for a number of other organizations affirmed their support for those same proposals. At the final event, FDPA Chair Carol Kuniholm provided print copies of the report, of the proposed changes, and of her own extended comments. Those comments can be read here.
You can watch all live streams here, minus some opening minutes of the Wilkes-Barre event, due to a video malfunction. Spotlight PA provides a summary and highlights here.
Speaker Rozzi made clear that the Wilkes-Barre event on Thursday was the last, and that now the workgroup would return to Harrisburg and finalize their own recommended rules.
What are OUR next steps?
- Contact your own representative. Urge their support of FDPA proposed changes.
- Contact Caucus Leaders.
- Write a letter to the editor.
Contact your representative:
- Find contact details here. Then draft your message. Here are some key points to consider.
- We appreciate that Speaker Rozzi took time to listen to the public about legislative rules.
- We want rules that ensure bipartisan solutions get a vote in committee, on the floor and in the opposite chamber. Reference some (or all!) of the FDPA recommended rules.
- We can’t afford another session where important issues, with strong bipartisan support, never get a final vote.
Contact the offices of the Caucus Leaders:
- Leader Joanna E. McClinton (D) 717-772-9850 jmcclinton@pahouse.net
- Leader Bryan Cutler (R) 717-783-6424 bcutler@pahousegop.com
Write a letter to the editor.
- Stress the importance of the Listening Tour and the need for better legislative rules.
- The message is the same as that shared with representatives, but could also include mention of specific issues ignored for too long.
- There are several stories available on the Fix Harrisburg The Problem webpage and more are listed on page 5 of Dysfunction by Design.
- Find news outlet contacts here.
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