Laurel Highlands Today

Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa from Pennsylvania is taking a stand against allowing House members with active arrest warrants to vote remotely. Grimm Krupa's initiative comes in response to a recent controversial decision that allowed Rep. Kevin Boyle to continue voting by designation despite having an active arrest warrant.

In a statement, Grimm Krupa expressed her concerns about the integrity of the legislative process, stating, "Pennsylvania’s General Assembly was created after a Constitutional Convention in 1776. It’s one of the oldest elected bodies in the country... Today’s vote puts our historic institution in jeopardy."

Regarding Rep. Boyle's situation, Grimm Krupa emphasized, "Rep. Boyle has an active warrant for his arrest. He is not in a position to properly represent his constituents... Rather than place Rep. Boyle on leave, House Democrats voted to allow him to continue voting even though his location is not known."

Grimm Krupa highlighted the importance of remote voting for legitimate reasons such as major life events that may prevent representatives from physically attending sessions. However, she emphasized that remote voting should not be used as a means for members with arrest warrants to influence the outcomes of votes.

Expressing disappointment in the recent decision, Grimm Krupa called for support for her resolution, stating, "I had hoped a resolution like this would not be necessary... I’m asking my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and restore some of the integrity we lost today."

This proposed resolution aims to uphold the principles of accountability and integrity within the Pennsylvania General Assembly, ensuring that the legislative process remains transparent and representative of the constituents' interests.