This was a successful meeting all around. PCN tv covered the meeting so we hope to get wider press coverage. So that was a positive.
There were some very good questions and some very well articulated answers from the panel. I certainly learned much more than I already knew about the bill.
It was also mentioned that besides the efforts to get SB 195 passed, there are some current cases being litigated at the PA state level and there is also one at the federal level, but we cannot sit back and hope the legal system works right by us. No it is our failing Judicial system that has put us in the position we are in. Case in point: A good question was brought up - Why do we have to legislate a bill to protect our rights to free and equal elections that our state constitution already protects; Article 1 Section 5: "Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage."? The Answer from the panel was very well articulated, but I will summarize it by saying our judicial system has allowed the usurpation of the legislature. This has been fought in court before and lost. Now the judiciary is another battle that we have to wage in the courts for another time, but it was noteworthy to mention it in this context.
The Bottom line is this, SB 195 is still in committee. We have to focus our efforts on getting this bill to the floor of the PA State Senate for an up or down vote. This will be a difficult task because those in power want to keep their power. And passing this bill is no incentive for either Republican or Democrat. They have nothing to gain by it. Additionally they do not want the bill to come to the floor for a vote because then they will have to go on record, they would just as soon see it die in committee than to have to vote on it.
If we want this bill to come to the floor for a vote we are going to have to call all of our Senators and put pressure on them to vote yes on this bill. You can start by calling Senator Folmer's office. He said they can give you the names of all the co-sponsor's of the bill and all the member's on the State Government Committee.
Thank you Senator Folmer for Sponsoring this bill. A true Statesmen puts the Constitution and what is right, over politics. He has nothing to gain by this.
Again it is up to us now. Contact your Representatives, contact your local media, right letters to the editor. Call your family and friends and encourage them to call their representatives to tell them to vote YES on SB 195.
Thank you and God Bless,
Troy Bowman
vice chairman
constitution party of pennsylvania
sb 195 town hall meeting update