Press & Testimony

Seventy deplores Harrisburg’s cynical, partisan inaction; urges frustrated voters not to give up on the fight for a better way

The Committee of Seventy applauds Senate State Government Committee Chairs Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) and their Senate State Government Committee colleagues for voting to approve today a compromise proposal that improves the redistricting process in Pennsylvania.

COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY ELECTION PROGRAM SET FOR MAY 15 PRIMARY ELECTION | Nonpartisan Voter Guide Expanded to All Five Counties

What is the amendment about? City voters will decide on May 15 whether the so-called Educational Supplement to the Home Rule Charter dealing with the public school system will be amended in various parts. These changes would impact the nomination, appointment and removal process for Board of Education members and create a Parent and Community…

Trust in government is at all-time lows. As polls have made clear, voters’ concern over the health of our democracy spans both the political spectrum and the Commonwealth.

The Committee of Seventy welcomes Governor Wolf’s support of several proposals that would help ensure representative and accountable government in Pennsylvania. Campaign finance and redistricting reform, in particular, are urgently needed to prevent special interests from exerting undue influence on the political process and to begin rebuilding trust in our democracy.

The Committee of Seventy is gratified that the federal judiciary has let stand the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling tossing out the state’s 2011 congressional map.

Governor Wolf’s statement of support for sweeping ethics and campaign finance reform is welcomed. If advanced, this move at long last could finally bring Pennsylvania’s transparency and accountability laws in line with other states.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling tossing out the state’s 2011 congressional map was a welcome statement that gerrymandering can become so blatantly partisan and excessive that it violates the state Constitution.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (January 21, 2016) – Committee of Seventy CEO David Thornburgh today released the following statement:

Fair, orderly, transparent and voter-driven process needed to draw political maps

Better Government Advocates Press Need to Reform City Commissioners Office

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Committee of Seventy announced today the selection of five inaugural Buchholz Fellows, promising young Philadelphians who will spend a year as Board members of the century-old good government group.

17,000 late processed applications found in Philadelphia alone

New Ballot Tool added to portfolio of election projects