UPDATE: HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania House passed a resolution Wednesday that would create a select committee on restoring law and order in Philadelphia. House Resolution 216 passed by a vote of 114 to 86.
The investigative committee will reportedly be comprised of five members. Three will be from the majority caucus and two from the minority caucus. All members including a chairman will be appointed by the speaker of the house.
The committee will reportedly recommend actions taken against local officials in Philadelphia including possible impeachment and policy changes. State House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) applauded the creation of the committee saying they have a keen interest in guaranteeing crime laws are taken seriously.
“The crisis of crime and violence in Philadephia is well known. In fact, it is in their daily news. The numbers speak for themselves. They are shocking. They are disturbing. They call for something to be done,” Benninghoff said.
ORIGINAL STORY — A Pennsylvania House resolution that is being brought fourth by the House Judiciary Committee is seeking to create a select committee on restoring law and order in Philadelphia.
State House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) says he supports House Resolution 216 that would form the investigative committee that would reportedly recommend actions taken against local officials in Philadelphia including possible impeachment and policy changes.
Benninghoff added the officials are refusing to follow state crime laws that were enacted causing crime and violence to go unchecked in the city.
“The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has a keen interest in guaranteeing that the tough-on-crime laws enacted to keep Pennsylvanians safe are enforced. Since local elected officials in Philadelphia are openly refusing to do that, leading to unchecked crime and violence in our largest city, this investigative select committee will take on the work of finding out where city leaders are failing Pennsylvanians, how state resources are expended to keep Pennsylvanians safe in Philadelphia, and whether crime victims are getting the protections they deserve,” Benninghoff said.
The house majority leader said he hopes the select committee will leave no stone unturned to ensure state laws that provide public safety are fully enforced.
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The resolution will next be considered by the full state House of Representatives.