Function Government

"We need to make it as easy as possible for people to participate.”

“Our democracy is strongest when constituents are informed about the job our elected leaders are doing in Washington,” said Khalif Ali, Common Cause Pennsylvania executive director.

Republicans plan to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to place these measures on a municipal primary election ballot – where maybe one-in-five voters will see them and be able to voice their opinion on them. Each constitutional amendment costs around $2 million in advertising costs. So far, if passed as-is, SB106 will cost taxpayers $12 million before they even have a chance to vote on them. 

Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) pushed for Jeffrey Clark to become acting Attorney General and use the DOJ’s powers to pressure state lawmakers in Georgia to contest the state’s election outcome. The plan was dropped when several DOJ leaders threatened to resign.

In the weeks after January 6, 2021, Common Cause Pennsylvania called on Rep. Perry to resign. “Instead of upholding the Constitution, as he swore to do in his Oath of Office, he has subverted the very democracy we elected him to serve and protect.”

"These subpoenas are a frightening violation of voters’ privacy and an egregious abuse of power. State regulations specifically exempt certain information from public release, because of privacy concerns --  but these subpoenas would require the Department of State to provide that information anyway."