Pennsylvania legislature will vote remotely as coronavirus spreads

Lancaster Online ^ | March 17, 2020 | Angela Couloumbis

[ConservativeInPA]

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House passed temporary rules Monday allowing members to vote remotely, essentially putting the 203-member body on an indefinite work-from-home policy as cases of the coronavirus continue to increase.

The resolution, meant to deter social contact, allows lawmakers to submit votes to their respective party leaders. Those leaders and committee chairs, however, will still need to come to the Capitol if the legislature wants to formally consider any legislation.

The state Senate already had a system for remote voting in place.

[ConservativeInPA]

The last thing we need is a legislature that can make laws anytime, anywhere and for any reason. I don’t know if legislators think about grabbing power or if it is just so natural it is instinct. Instead of a model where the legislature meets every two years, like some other states have (Texas I think), we are moving towards 24 hours per day governance. (Governance is just a nice word for, “You’ll do as I say, pion.”) Yeah, I get the idea of emergency sessions, and there have always been provisions for that. Perhaps I have lost such trust in government that I much rather live with the consequences of not having government around. At least then I know what criminals to look out for.

[finnsheep]

What was the logic of closing all the PA liquor stores?

[C210N]

This violates standard RROO (Robert’s Rules of Order).

It means that a vote tally will include those that would have appeared in person PLUS those that were not appearing in person. Instead of having 70%, 80% or whatever voting, now 100% will vote, as even those unable to vote have someone to “proxy” vote for them.

It’s the ‘Rat way - like when a voter does not vote, “someone” votes in their place.

[ConservativeInPA]

What was the logic of closing all the PA liquor stores?

My personal opinion: to put a boot on our necks. Fascists will find and use every reason to control citizens. (need not apply to illegals) It is power, pure and simple. Government is loving it. And power corrupts ...

[Russ]

Currently there are 70 cases reported in Pa. out of a population of 12.8 million. 12 counties out of the 67 have reported having any cases of the virus. I’m not judging, just reporting the facts.

[Geoffrey]

I sure wish they couldn’t vote.

I would double their pay and let them not show up for work if the only thing they could vote on is removing laws and regulations.