PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by News Release
State Senate President Joe Scarnati (Jefferson County) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (Delaware County) announced the Senate will not convene for a lame-duck session following the Nov. 4 general election.
The Pennsylvania Constitution requires the legislative session to end by Nov. 30 in even-numbered years. The lame-duck sessions that occur between Nov. 4 and Nov. 30 have been widely criticized because retiring legislators and the governor are less accountable to voters during this period. Lawmakers often wait until lame-duck session to pass controversial legislation that otherwise would not get support before the election. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Pennsylvania is one of only 12 states that do not limit the length of legislative sessions.
The Senate previously passed Senate Bill 468 by Sen. Bob Regola (Westmoreland) to eliminate lame-duck sessions. The measure now is in the House. Even if the House fails to act on SB 468, the decision by state Senate leaders not to return for lame-duck session effectively forces the House and the governor to complete their legislative work before the election.
