(File Photo of Pa. State Rep. (15th) Josh Kail during a recent appearance at Beaver County Radio)

(Harrisburg, Pa.)  In order to address the issues Pennsylvanians care about most, House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) hosted a hearing Monday titled “Constitutional Amendments – Why We Care” on a joint resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The proposed amendments would provide for a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual assault to file previously time-barred claims, to authorize the General Assembly to disapprove regulations, and require voters to present identification when casting a ballot.

“Meaningful change starts with innovative policy solutions to support a prosperous Commonwealth for future generations,” said Kail. “We are ready to get to work on these measurers and want the people of Pennsylvania to be able to vote directly on these proposals.”

Held at the Main Capitol Building in Harrisburg, the policy hearing’s testifiers were:

• Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair/Huntingdon).
• Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State.
• Madeline Malisa, senior fellow for the Foundation for Government Accountability.
• David Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.
• Grant Gulibon, environmental specialist for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Gregory, who survived childhood sexual abuse, has been a leader on creating a two-year window of time in which survivors of childhood sexual abuse could file lawsuits if the statute of limitations has otherwise expired in their case. He said speaking with fellow survivors inspires him to fight every day on this issue, particularly after a Department of State administrative error in 2019 created delays.

On the issue of voter ID, Pennsylvania is one of only 15 states where voters can cast their ballot without showing an identification document. Seeking outside advice on how a neighboring state successfully conducts its elections, LaRose said Ohio was able to pass legislation requiring photo identification to vote and making state-issued photo identification available for free, preventing the disenfranchisement of any eligible citizen.

In order for good governance to remain at the forefront, Taylor testified that the system of checks and balances is non-negotiable. He emphasized that instances such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic are examples of how crippling overregulation can be.

“We heard a lot of great feedback, and I am excited to continue our discussions on how we can move Pennsylvania forward,” said Kail.