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Slim and none Lebanon Daily News Lead Editorial Sunday, March 9, 2008 Pennsylvania political guru Terry Madonna was probably right when he was quoted in a news story last week that the chances of convening a Pennsylvania constitutional convention are "zero and none." State lawmakers would seem to have little incentive to launch a process that could result in fundamental government changes that might diminish their own power. And let’s face it, citizens aren’t exactly clamoring for such action. After a brief arousal of civic interest sparked by the 2005 lawmaker pay raise, most people seem to have settled back into apathy. Most — certainly not all. Fewer than half the incumbents face opposite-party challengers — and just 32 have primary opponents. That lack of competition is one good reason why we need a state constitutional convention. We desperately need to change the way legislative districts are drawn — to foster more competition. They’re currently gerrymandered by legislative leaders to preserve "safe seats" with lopsided registration numbers. The result is mostly the same old status quo. Yes, lawmakers have enacted some reforms over the last couple of years — but nowhere near the dramatic overhaul our bloated, expensive government needs to meet today’s challenges. And that’s unlikely unless regular citizens are empowered to change government structure through a convention. Other things that might be accomplished through a convention: term limits and reducing the size of the Legislature. Our General Assembly is among the nation’s largest and most expensive — and perhaps least efficient, if the failure to enact decent property-tax reforms citizens have been screaming for is any indication. Sen. Mike Folmer, our Lebanon Valley senator, has proposed a decent bill that would call a convention. Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, who represents Hershey among other areas, has also supported a major overhaul of state government. Unfortunately, most of their colleagues — even the much-vaunted freshmen who were supposed to transform the old boys and gals club after the 2006 elections — aren’t too interested. And won’t be — unless citizens force them to get interested. You can do that by calling or writing and asking your legislators to support a constitutional convention. If you don’t care, they won’t — and all you’ll be able to do is sit around and complain about the lousy status quo. |
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