Oct. 05, 2023
HARRISBURG – With the House Appropriations Committee Democrats Wednesday night adopting a substantial amendment to comprehensive Election Code changes to be considered by the House on Thursday, House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and House Republican Appropriations Chairman Seth Grove (R-York) said the process being run by House Democrats is reminiscent of the worst of pay-raise era politics.
“In one of the most sensitive issues to Pennsylvanians that we take up in this building, the substantial and significant amending of a bill providing for wide-ranging changes to our Commonwealth’s election laws in the final moments before midnight is more than disturbing; it is downright shameful,” Cutler said.
“With the House recessed for the night, due back at the earliest possible moment on Thursday, there is nothing that was done under the cover of darkness, while most Pennsylvanians were in bed, that could not have been done in the sunshine of a new day,” Cutler added. “When you run a chamber this way—in secrecy and the cover of darkness when nobody is paying attention—it is clear that Democrats continue to keep us out of session out of fear of reaching new lows.”
Grove noted the process in committee was non-transparent and members were neither informed on what they would be voting on, nor were they provided the amendment until after the committee meeting had started.
“For the few Pennsylvanians who may have been watching Wednesday’s midnight madness, it was impossible for them to know what was going on or what was voted on when members and staff were not provided the most basic information about what we would be taking up,” he said. “When you substantively amend legislation, especially legislation that is aimed to govern the conduct of elections as soon as this November, it is appalling that those responsible for reviewing and voting on the changes were not provided the information necessary to make an informed decision. This is the worst of politics.”
For those who may have missed it,
you can view the entire committee meeting here.
House Republicans held a press conference following the defeat of Senate Bill 224 on the House Floor. Here is the press conference in its entirety.
Republican Leader Bryan Cutler
100th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives