State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi announced Monday that he has altered his proposal to tinker with Pennsylvania’s Electoral College system.
Acknowledging some of the problems with his current plan, Pileggi (R-Delaware) said his new legislation would put the votes up for auction.
The revised proposal would keep in place the current process wherein each party selects 20 electors to vote for their presidential candidate.
However, instead of a winner-take-all approach based on the results of the state’s popular vote, the 40 prospective electors would gather in an upscale Philadelphia auction house.
Bids would start at $10,000 per vote.
“The Senator wants this proposal to generate a conversation,” said Pileggi spokesman Erik Arneson. “Specifically, a conversation about how to prevent Democrats from winning every Electoral College vote in Pa.”
“This isn’t a top 20 or even a top 30 priority,” he added. “Although, knowing the Senate’s track record, that probably means it’s actually more likely to pass.”
Democrats quickly criticized the plan.
“This is just another scheme to steal elections” said state Sen. Matt Smith (D-Allegheny). “When are the Republican majorities in the state House, state Senate, congressional delegation and Governor’s mansion going to understand? Pennsylvania is a blue state.”
Pileggi scheduled a final vote on the bill to the Senate calendar for Tuesday, April 2.