Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
04/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2024 14:30
Grimm Krupa Introduces Resolution Banning House Members with Active Arrest Warrants from Remote Voting
Apr. 17, 2024
HARRISBURG - Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) said Wednesday she is circulating a co-sponsorship memo for legislation that would amend the House General Operating Rules to prohibit a House member from voting remotely if he or she is incarcerated or if there is an active warrant for their arrest. This comes after House Democrats pushed through a party-line vote allowing Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia) to vote by designation because he has filed a form, even though there is a warrant out for his arrest.
Grimm Krupa issued the following statement:
"Pennsylvania's General Assembly was created after a Constitutional Convention in 1776. It's one of the oldest elected bodies in the country. I believe it has stood the test of time because it is based on a simple and effective system. A representative is elected by the people of his or her district to advocate for them in the Capitol. Today's vote puts our historic institution in jeopardy.
"Rep. Boyle has an active warrant for his arrest. He is not in a position to properly represent his constituents. Rather than place Rep. Boyle on leave, House Democrats voted to allow him to continue voting even though his location is not known.
"Representatives use remote voting for all sorts of legitimate reasons. Major life events sometimes prevent us from coming to Harrisburg to cast our votes, even though we are fully prepared to weigh in on the issues of the day. These are the cases for which remote voting was created. Remote voting was not created to allow members with arrest warrants to continue to solidify their party's razor-thin majority.
"I had hoped a resolution like this would not be necessary. But seeing common sense lose in a party-line vote on the House floor today, I believe my legislation should move to the top of the General Assembly's priority list. I'm asking my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and restore some of the integrity we lost today."
Representative Charity Grimm Krupa
51st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: 724-438-6100
RepGrimmKrupa.com / Facebook.com/RepGrimmKrupa
Grimm Krupa issued the following statement:
"Pennsylvania's General Assembly was created after a Constitutional Convention in 1776. It's one of the oldest elected bodies in the country. I believe it has stood the test of time because it is based on a simple and effective system. A representative is elected by the people of his or her district to advocate for them in the Capitol. Today's vote puts our historic institution in jeopardy.
"Rep. Boyle has an active warrant for his arrest. He is not in a position to properly represent his constituents. Rather than place Rep. Boyle on leave, House Democrats voted to allow him to continue voting even though his location is not known.
"Representatives use remote voting for all sorts of legitimate reasons. Major life events sometimes prevent us from coming to Harrisburg to cast our votes, even though we are fully prepared to weigh in on the issues of the day. These are the cases for which remote voting was created. Remote voting was not created to allow members with arrest warrants to continue to solidify their party's razor-thin majority.
"I had hoped a resolution like this would not be necessary. But seeing common sense lose in a party-line vote on the House floor today, I believe my legislation should move to the top of the General Assembly's priority list. I'm asking my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and restore some of the integrity we lost today."
Representative Charity Grimm Krupa
51st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: 724-438-6100
RepGrimmKrupa.com / Facebook.com/RepGrimmKrupa
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