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Josephs: Should Pa. have more influence in presidential primary?

House State Government Committee holding May 24 hearing on the issue

HARRISBURG, May 3 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., recently announced she will host a House State Government Committee hearing focused on changing the date of the presidential primary in Pennsylvania.

The hearing, which is open to the public, will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 24 in Room 418 Main Capitol.

"Changing the date of the presidential primary in Pennsylvania could potentially be very influential in the selection of the candidates," said Josephs, chairwoman of the State Government Committee. "We have to weigh the pros and cons and determine the best situation for Pennsylvania citizens."

The hearing will explore the subject further and gather information for the committee's consideration as it moves to determine whether legislative action is warranted.

The hearing arose from a common trend among three proposals that have been referred to the committee. All of the proposals recommend giving Pennsylvania voters more political power in the choice of the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees.

State Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, has introduced legislation (H.B. 289) that would move the primary date to the second Tuesday of February. State Rep. Ron Buxton, D-Dauphin, introduced legislation (H.B. 63) that would move the primary election date in 2008 to March 4. The other reform has been introduced from Gov. Rendell, entitled "Election Reform Task Force," that would establish the first Tuesday in March as the date of the primary election.

The current presidential primary date in Pennsylvania occurs on the fourth Tuesday of April. Twenty-six other states currently hold their primary elections before Pennsylvania's.

For more information on the hearing, contact Josephs' office at 215-893-1515.