Heffley Questions Wolf Veto of Voting Machine Funding Bill

July 9, 2019

HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) today questioned last week’s decision by Gov. Tom Wolf to reject Senate Bill 48, legislation to help county governments with the purchase of new, mandated voting machine systems. The governor said he vetoed the measure over its other provisions, among them the elimination of straight-party voting.

Heffley issued the following statement regarding Wolf’s action:

“I am extremely disappointed with the governor’s decision to veto legislation that would have provided counties statewide with $90 million in much-needed funding to assist with the purchase of new voting machines.

“Carbon County’s voting system has been working well, but the arbitrary out-of-court settlement by the state will now force the expenditure of money the county currently doesn’t have to replace the machines. Senate Bill 48 would have been a huge boost in helping to pay for this unfunded mandate that unfortunately may now fall on the backs of hard-working property owners through higher taxes.

“The legislation also would have extended absentee ballot timelines to encourage greater voter participation and ended the straight-party voting option which has already been banned in 43 other states. Now, those good government reforms are gone, thanks to the governor’s questionable veto.”

Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717.260.6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
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