Pa. voters approve constitutional amendments to curb governor's power

[FakeNoose]

(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/05/18/pennsylvania-constitutional-amendments-2021-election-results-limiting-governors-power/stories/202105180166

This story was updated at 11 a.m. on May 19, 2021.

Pennsylvania’s primary election featured nationally watched questions stemming from Republican dissatisfaction over shutdowns ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf during the pandemic and worries over whether federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump will roll back civil rights protections.

Both of the ballot questions — which sought to limit the power of the governor in declaring a disaster and put more power into the hands of the Legislature’s 253 lawmakers — have passed, The Associated Press reported, making Pennsylvania the first state to impose such restrictions on a governor.

The two questions led with almost 54% of the vote with 73% of precincts reporting.

The first proposed constitutional amendment will make it so that the state’s General Assembly could terminate or extend a disaster declaration at any time without approval from the governor. The Pennsylvania Constitution will have to be amended so that the disaster declaration power will be shared by the governor and the General Assembly.

- snip -

The second question proposed that the time limit on a disaster declaration be shortened from 90 days to 21 days unless the General Assembly votes to extend it. Mr. Wolf openly advocated against these ballot questions in a visit to Pittsburgh last week, calling them “bad news” and saying that they would politicize the government’s response to disasters and emergencies.

- more at link -

Not enough voters followed the instructions to vote NO-NO-YES, and the wording on the questions was deliberately confusing, IMHO.

[Tree-Hugger]

1. Dems stayed home

Poll working friends across the state reported higher turnout for GQP people.

We need to work very hard at flipping as many seats as possible. If we can flip our state legislature to a democraric majority then these ammendments are a non issue.

ETA: In my blue area, I received so many mailings asking to vote YES on those first two. I received one from local dems. Vote YES: ReOpen PA End the Lockdown signs were everywhere.

[FakeNoose]

2. I know, there was a lot of confusion over this

Even the "good" Dems were misunderstanding the purpose of these questions. That's how the Repukes roll in this state.

[Tree-Hugger]

3. Exactly

I responded in your general discussion posts that some folks in my area had sogns on their lawn for Dem candidates along with thr Vote Yes signs.

[Deminpenn]

4. This is not exactly a done deal

These two questions only started the constitutional amendment process as I understand it.

Now there will have to be actual legislation written and it will have to pass unchanged in two consecutive legislative sessions. This isn't as easy as it seems. FairdistrictsPA, an organization that has been working for about the 3-4 years to get the constitution amended to provide a non-partisan, citizen-led redistricting process enacted has repeatedly failed despite having wide bi-partisan support for the same bill in the state house and state senate. If these amendments manage to pass two consecutive sessions, then they will put on the ballot for a final vote.

If voting for constitutional amendments was as easy as getting a question on the ballot in the primary, there would be a whole lot more changes to the state constitution than there are.

[FakeNoose]

5. Thank you for the lucid explanation

I haven't been able to find much at all on this. The PA Dems sent out an email last month on it, but all they told us was No-No-Yes.

I'm glad to learn that the voters of Pennsylvania will get another chance (actually several chances) to have an impact.

[Deminpenn]

6. I think what I posted is correct, but not 100% sure

nt

[Amishman]

7. It is a done deal, the legislature votes happen before the ballot question and are over

Question 1 and Question 2 were in the same bill. That bill has already been approved in two sessions.

This is over and final.

Passed in 2020 legislation session as SB 1166 in July
Passed in 2021 legislation session as SB2 in January (House) and February (Senate)
https://ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania_Question_2,_Emergency_Declarations_Amendment_(May_2021)
https://ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania_Question_1,_Legislative_Resolution_to_Extend_or_Terminate_Emergency_Declaration_Amendment_(May_2021)

(you'll need to copy the links above including the dates in brackets, the linking on DU seems to misbehave when those characters are used)

[Deminpenn]

8. Thanks, hadn't been paying close attention

I don't think significant ballot questions should be decided in the generally low turnout primaries though. They should have to be decided in a general election.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

9. That is utterly depressing.

But thanks for the info.

[Deminpenn]

10. Gov Wolf went ahead and issued another 90 day extention anyway

two days after the primary.

The state legislature Rs voted out a resolution that says there won't be limits on business and a couple other things, but left all else intact. But apparently, the constitution amendment won't be officially in place until the votes are certified next month.

Since Wolf previously announced all covid restrictions will be lifted on Memorial Day, the R resolution is moot. Mask order will be lifted when 70% of adults are vaccinated which is very close (69.5%) if all the partially vaccinated folks get their 2nd shots.