FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2008

HARRISBURG – State Senators Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-Dauphin, York), Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and John H. Eichelberger, Jr., (Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon and Mifflin) today announced that the results of a recently released Quinnipiac University poll clearly indicate that the citizens of Pennsylvania overwhelmingly support the convening of a special session of the General Assembly for the purpose of reforming the General Assembly and providing for the ethical conduct of state government.

“When asked the question, ‘Do you think Governor Rendell should call a special session of the legislature this summer on legislative reform to combat corruption,’ 76% of those polled said ‘yes’,” Piccola reported. “With three out of every four citizens supporting the call for a special session, we have a mandate for reform.”

Senator Eichelberger said “this poll again confirms the people of Pennsylvania have lost faith in their government and that they want action from their state officials.” He also added, “The recent indictments are a terrible example of the culture of corruption that must end.”

“Both the US and Pennsylvania Constitutions open with ‘We the People,’” Senator Folmer said. “The people are obviously not happy with their government; they know that Harrisburg can’t fix their problems until Harrisburg itself is fixed. It’s time to act.”

Piccola is circulating a petition to all members of the General Assembly in accordance with Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, which would require the Governor to convene a special session of the General Assembly if a majority of members from both chambers request such a session. The petition calls for the special session to consider any and all legislation necessary to reform the General Assembly, the legislative process and to improve the ethical governance of Pennsylvania.

Currently, nine state senators and twenty representatives have signed on to the petition. A complete list of who has signed can be found online at http://piccola.org/pages/government-reform.asp.

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