Bethlehem City Democratic Committee

 More than 350,000 Pennsylvanians disenfranchised by Republican leadership

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Today, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn applauded petitioners for filing a Mandamus brief with the Supreme Court urging  the court to force Speaker Sam Smith to announce special elections.
 

 "Republicans are trying to disenfranchise voters by refusing to call special elections," said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn. "I stand with voters from across Pennsylvania who are demanding special elections and I applaud their efforts. Speaker Sam Smith and Leader Michael Turzai must listen to the people of Pennsylvania and stop trying to maximize their own political gain at Pennsylvania's expense. Over 350,000 Pennsylvanians do not have representation, and now they are speaking out. I join them and urge Speaker Sam Smith to obey his Constitutional obligation and call special elections in 6 vacant house districts concurrent with the April 24 primary so Pennsylvanians can again have a voice in our legislature"

 Over 110 roll call votes have been cast since the speaker was legally required to call special elections, including votes on job creation, Marcellus shale regulation and reapportionment. The Pennsylvania Constitution requires the Speaker to call for special elections, and this needs to be done by February 24, 2012 tocoincide with the Primary Election on April 24. "The Speaker's partisan obstinance will deny voters representation and ultimately cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars if special elections take place on another d

ate," said Burn.