May. 26, 2021
BRIDGEVILLE – Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) today issued the following statement in response to the release of the Inspector General’s report on the Pennsylvania Department of State’s failure to advertise a constitutional amendment to allow the voters to decide if a two-year civil window should be created to allow child sex abuse survivors to sue their alleged abusers:
“This report was issued on April 28 – exactly a month ago. Why was there a delay in publicly releasing this report? It appears the Wolf administration continues to pay only lip service to transparency. While I’m glad the inspector general did not find anyone acted intentionally to thwart this amendment, I must question how the Department of State has been able to successfully advertise every other amendment for the past six years. Why were there no processes and procedures in place laying out the constitutional amendment process?
“In addition, the legislative director resigned only days ago. A Right-to-Know request shows the legislative director saying ‘they are working on putting out formal notice.’
See attached. Who is they? The acting secretary refused during her press conference to provide more details on why he resigned. If he is truly at fault, why wasn’t he fired or forced to resign sooner? The former secretary resigned immediately.
“The Wolf administration portrays itself as a government that works. This is a prime example of how this is not a government that works. Time and time again it has failed. That is why I sponsored
House Bill 1010 to remove the executive branch from the constitutional amendment process in order to ensure this never happens again.
“I look forward to my work on the Select Committee on the Publication of Constitutional Amendments. While I appreciate the inspector general’s report, we need more answers. Answers that were not provided in the report or at the press conference.”
The 46th Legislative District includes Collier and South Fayette townships and Bridgeville, Heidelberg, McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Canton, Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and Smith townships and Burgettstown, McDonald and Midway boroughs in Washington County.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
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