STATE COLLEGE, Jan. 8 – Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin said he will hold a public forum to discuss the need for a constitutional convention to be held in Pennsylvania. The forum will be held 10 a.m. on Jan. 25 in the State College Municipal Building, 234 S. Allen St.
Conklin said the purpose of the event will be to emphasize the need for legislative reforms specific to the budget process and establish possible solutions, including those that can only be done by modifying the state’s current constitution.
“This is a call for reform,” said Conklin. “Holding a constitutional convention is a tall task but it’s one that I’m ready to undertake and look forward to discussing.
“We hit multiple stumbling blocks with this year’s budget and I think the process is partially to blame. We need to look how we got there and if fundamental changes need to be made in how we draft the state budget, then this is the perfect opportunity to bring those changes to light.”
Panelists slated to join Conklin include Matthew Brouillette, Commonwealth Foundation; Jon Eich, chairman of the Centre County Board of Commissioners; Eric Epstein, coordinator of Rock the Capital; Elizabeth Goreham, State College Borough Mayor; Tim Potts, Democracy Rising; and Sara Steelman, Common Cause.