PA Freedom Caucus Pledges Action After Derelict Bucks County Election Effort

Freedom Caucus Members to Introduce Recall Legislation to Remove County or Municipal Officers When They Willfully Defy the Law

Harrisburg, PA: PA Freedom Caucus members are planning to introduce legislation to combat future attempts by county officials to willfully violate election law. The bill would establish a process to remove derelict county or municipal officials from office before their term expires. This action comes in response to an unlawful plot by Bucks County commissioners last month to tally illegal votes.

“Pennsylvania voters shouldn’t have to tolerate rogue county officials openly usurping state law to satisfy their own political whims,” said Freedom Caucus member and prime sponsor, Joe D’Orsie (R-York). “This legislation establishes a process for local voters to decide whether a county or municipal official should be removed from office after an offense like we witnessed in Bucks County.”

Under this bill, the process to remove county/municipal officials would still originate in the PA House of Representatives, much like impeachment proceedings, but upon the House’s approval, local voters would ultimately decide the matter in a recall election.

PAFC Chair Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia) voiced his support for the initiative. “Pennsylvanians deserve action after tyrants seek to undermine our institutions. At a time when confidence in our election process is waning, the least responsible thing to do as legislators is to turn a blind eye and leave illicit behavior unchecked. The Freedom Caucus is proud to lead the charge to right this wrong.”