PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania Senate Republicans have pushed through controversial subpoenas demanding voter information from the Wolf administration.
The Republican-controlled Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee voted along party lines to issue the subpoenas to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
The subpoenas request communications and training materials sent to counties before the election, along with all voter names, addresses, drivers license numbers, partial Social Security numbers and voter history.
“There have been questions regarding the validity of people who have voted, whether or not they exist," said committee chair Cris Dush (R-Wellsboro).
“It will accomplish one of two things," said Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte).
"Either it will give us action items to better our laws moving forward for the next election, or we can dispel a lot of the concerns about the last election. One of those two things will happen at the end of the day, and I think both of those are good.”
Multiple Democrats on the committee pointed out the 2020 election was certified and reviewed in dozens of courts, which all found no credibility in claims of fraud.
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“We are not responding to proven allegations. We are investigating the allegations to determine whether or not they are factual," Dush replied.
When asked what security measures will be put in place to protect voter information or what outside companies they are considering to review the data, Dush said it was too early to say.
“It’s a concern, because there’s no accountability and no oversight over who is going to have access to this information, and what ultimately they are going to do with it," Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks County) said.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Pittsburgh) says they plan to challenge the subpoenas in court. He believes it is governmental overreach.
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“This should sound an alarm to everyone," said Costa.
"They want Social Security information and drivers license numbers of all registered voters without the consent of the individuals, and without explaining who will access to that information, what they plan to do with it, and any type of limitations of what they might do with that information going forward."
Santarsiero said they are calling on the Department of Justice to open an investigation similar to the one in Arizona.
Gov. Tom Wolf calls it an attempt to bring an Arizona-style circus to Pennsylvania, a “charade” tied to the “big lie” of widespread fraud in the election.
“Senate Republicans would rather cater to the fringe elements of their party than focus on issues that affect Pennsylvanians' lives," said Wolf.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the GOP senators' move a "sham" and referenced former President Donald Trump in his criticism.
