HR 98: Create Legislative Committee on Elections

H.R. 98, P.N. 629 (BARRAR) This proposes a Concurrent Resolution to establish a Select Committee of the General Assembly to investigate issues concerning the administration of the November 2, 2004 election as well as election laws, practices, and procedures. Among issues to be explored would be the litigation concerning Ralph Nader’s attempt to appear on the Pennsylvania ballot and the difficulties of military and oversea ballots being counted as well as other difficulties with absentee ballots, the authority of election monitors, and the integrity of provisional balloting. The composition of this committee would be three members appointed by the House Speaker, two members appointed by the House Minority Leader, three members appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, and two members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader. (Thus, there would likely be six Republican members and four Democratic members.) Co-chairs of the committee would be selected by the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tempore (and thus most likely both would be Republican). This committee would have subpoena power.