Voter ID and Debt Reform On Pennsylvania House Agenda Next Week

The state House returns to session on Monday, March 12, to debate and vote on various issues of importance.
                     
                     Ensuring a Proper Vote: Valid Photo ID Required

The Pennsylvania Voter Identification Protection Act can prevent the four most widely documented types of voter fraud, including impersonation at the polls, fictitious registrations, double-voting and voting by illegal aliens. Modeled after Indiana’s photo identification law, which was upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008, House Bill 934 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler) would amend the state election code to require all voters to present valid photo ID before voting. Current Pennsylvania law requires photo ID for voters who appear to vote in an election district for the first time. Legislation containing voter ID had already passed the General Assembly only to be vetoed by former Gov. Ed Rendell.
                    
                     Debt Reform...Ending Pet Projects Funded With Borrowed Money

Reforming and redefining the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP), an economic development grant program which was largely abused by the previous administration, is the aim of House Bill 2175 (Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny). RACP is a grant program, funded by borrowed money, for private or public economic development or infrastructure projects. The legislation would create a new stringent review and approval process within the Office of the Budget. The Budget Office would develop eligibility criteria and establish guidelines for the process.