Brendan Boyle unveils bill to plan Constitution's 250th anniversary
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Isaac Avilucea/Axios
In Philly, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle understands that the early bird gets the worm — and that's why he's already leading efforts to start planning for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
Why it matters: Ain't no party like a Philadelphian party because, apparently, planning for a Philadelphian party starts 11 years in advance.
The big picture: Boyle is turning into the city's resident party planner.
- He helped spearhead efforts to hold a special ceremonial event with Congress earlier this year at Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.
Driving the news: With the National Constitution Center as his backdrop, Boyle unveiled a bill Monday that would create a national commission to begin planning the anniversary celebrations.
- He told Axios he expects the bill — modeled after the legislation that created the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission — to draw bipartisan support and hopefully be adopted early next year.
Yes, but: Could Boyle face some unexpected opposition — namely, Philadelphians who are birthday-ed out after this year's jam-packed schedule?
Catch up quick: Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy and one of the country's most prominent sports cities, has hosted several high-profile events coinciding with the semiquincentennial, including the World Cup and MLB All-Star Game.
- Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration also poured millions of dollars into yearlong programming for the 250th, including a Fourth of July concert that has drawn scrutiny over whether city officials skirted procurement requirements in awarding the contract to a politically connected production company.
Zoom in: The anniversary binge isn't over yet: The city is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors for the revamped RockyFest, which kicks off in November to commemorate the iconic film's 50th anniversary.
What they're saying: "I've never met a Philadelphian who's party-ed out," a chuckling Boyle told Axios. "I think anyone who might be anniversary-ed out probably has an opportunity to get over that between now and 2037."
- The National Constitution Center will be prominently involved in planning a "civic decade" of celebrations, interim president and CEO Vince Stango said.
"These should not be isolated anniversaries on a calendar," he said. "They can become milestones in a larger national project to strengthen civic knowledge."
Case in point: Nearly 70% of Americans are dissatisfied with how democracy is working, per a recent Pew Research poll.
What's ahead: The Bill of Rights turns 250 not long after that — in 2041.
- But who's counting the days, right? Well, we know one guy who is.