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<p>LUZERNE &#8212; If the people of Pennsylvania want to &#8221;fix their government,&#8221; two state representatives Wednesday offered a means to accomplish that goal &#8212; hold a constitutional convention.</p><p>State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, detailed his support of a new proposal to host a limited constitutional convention in Pennsylvania, similar to the one that was hosted in 1967.</p><p>At a news conference at Kaufer&#8217;s office on Main Street in Luzerne, Kaufer joined Rep. Stephen Bloom, R-Carlisle, author of the proposal, to explain what a convention could look like.</p><p>&#8220;Year after year, the public demands major reforms in state government, and yet these reforms fail to make their way through the legislative process,&#8221; Kaufer said. &#8220;It&#8217;s time to allow the people of Pennsylvania to fix their government.&#8221;</p><p>House Bill 1967 would call for a limited constitutional convention, which could amend the state constitution to address the size of the Legislature, the state budget process and other areas. A companion bill, Senate Bill 867, has been introduced in the Senate.</p><p>The proposal would first allow voters to decide if there should be a constitutional convention via referendum. If approved, the 163-member convention would be formed.</p><p>All final recommendations would require majority support from the 163 delegates. Those recommendations would then be placed on the ballot for approval or rejection by voters.</p><p>&#8220;A constitutional convention would be an opportunity for citizens who are frustrated with our broken state government to take a very direct role in historic government change,&#8221; Bloom said. &#8220;Convention delegates would vote on recommended changes to the state&#8217;s constitution, but the final decision would really be left up to Pennsylvania voters. A convention would be an opportunity for citizens to take a very direct role in historic government change.&#8221;</p><p>Kaufer and Bloom said it is critical to get the word out on the proposal to allow voters to become aware of the possibility.</p><p>&#8220;For years, the public has been demanding some of the same major reforms, and yet these reforms continually fail to make their way through the legislative process,&#8221; Kaufer said. &#8220;Look no further than the state budget stalemates which we&#8217;ve experienced over the past few years, or property tax reform and school funding, or redistricting reform. And the list goes on. There are countless issues which a vast majority of Pennsylvanians agree upon, but, due to party politics, are never enacted into law.&#8221;</p><p>Bloom, who announced he is running for the Republican nomination in the 11th Congressional District in 2018, has introduced legislation in the House, which Kaufer co-sponsored, calling for a limited constitutional convention for government reform to make changes on some major issues which he said seemingly have no legislative fix.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m talking about election reform, campaign finance reform, requiring a zero-based budgeting approach,&#8221; Kaufer said.</p><p>Pennsylvania has not held a constitutional convention since 1967. Kaufer said the people of Pennsylvania have an historic opportunity to change the way that their government works &#8212; &#8220;to make sure it is working for them, as it is meant to, and not for party leaders and special interests.&#8221;</p><p>Bloom said there has not been much opposition to the proposal in the Legislature. He and Kaufer said the &#8220;time is now&#8221; to reform state government and they hope the people support it.</p><p>&#8220;If folks like the way Pennsylvania government is operating now, they shouldn&#8217;t support this,&#8221; Kaufer said. &#8220;If not, then this is long overdue.&#8221;</p><p>Bloom said it&#8217;s about the people taking control of their government. He said the proposal is receiving some bipartisan support.</p><p>&#8220;This is not a Democrat or Republican issue,&#8221; he said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">State Rep. Stephen Bloom talks about holding a constitutional convention as Rep. Aaron Kaufer, left, looks on Wednesday in Luzerne. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_IMG_0087rotation.jpg</photo0><caption0>State Rep. Stephen Bloom talks about holding a constitutional convention as Rep. Aaron Kaufer, left, looks on Wednesday in Luzerne. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill O&#8217;Boyle | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Kaufer behind constitutional convention proposal to fix state government