Panel considers proposals to reduce state Legislature
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HARRISBURG -- Supporters and opponents of several bills to trim the size of state Legislature, currently the nation's largest and costliest full-time assembly, sounded off before a House panel today. But even if one of the bills were to be enacted, a reduction in lawmakers wouldn't happen for years.
The State Government Committee, run by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, heard from House Speaker Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney, on his plan to cut the House to 153 members -- down from the current 203. He wouldn't reduce the 50-member Senate.
"There's nothing magical about 153, but I think it would be a more workable group. I think the legislative process would become more effective," said Mr. Smith, a 25-year veteran who's opposed such reductions in the past.
Other GOP legislators, including Rep. Mark Mustio of Moon, suggested different reduction plans. Mr. Mustio is looking for 185 House members and 37 senators. But under his bill, a Senate term would be six years (up from the current four years) and a House term would go from two years to four years.
Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery, favors 121 House members and 30 senators.
The panel may vote on a bill this fall, but any changes to the Legislature's size likely wouldn't occur until after the 2020 census. It will outline state population shifts from 2010-20. In January officials will unveil a new map that redraws the boundaries of the 203 existing House districts and 50 Senate districts to reflect the population changes from 2000 to 2010.
Polls have shown that cutting the number of legislators is popular among voters, as a way to reduce the state budget, but it's a slow process because it requires a constitutional amendment. That requires passage of the same bill in two different legislative sessions and then approval by voters in a statewide referendum, a process that takes three to five years.
If the House were cut to 153 members, work to redraw the district lines would likely wait until after the 2020 census, officials said.
Some rural legislators oppose a smaller Legislature, saying they'd have more land to cover and more people to represent, which could slow services. Each House district now covers 60,000 people and each Senate district 250,000.
Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia, opposed any cuts, saying it would make campaigning more expensive by forcing candidates to contact more voters, and said the cost savings to the state would be negligible. But others say the growth of computers and other technology, such as email, has made it easier to keep in contact with constituents.
First Published August 9, 2011 5:21 pm
