HARRISBURG — Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement applauding the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for passing House Bill (HB) 153, legislation that would reduce the size of the State House from 203 to 153 members, and the State Senate from 50 to 38 members. The bill was authored by Speaker of the House Sam Smith.
“By proposing to shrink the size Pennsylvania’s State Legislature, Republicans have taken yet another step to protect taxpayer dollars by pushing legislation to ensure government operates more efficiently,” Gleason said. “Speaker Smith’s bill exemplifies the reform-oriented culture that has been championed by Pennsylvania Republicans at all levels of government. From Governor Corbett’s two balanced, reality-based budgets, to Senator Toomey and Congressional Republicans tireless efforts to keep President Obama and Senator Casey’s massive spending at bay, Pennsylvania taxpayers know they can count on Republicans to make sure their taxpayer dollars are spent in the most efficient way possible.
Chairman Gleason continued: “I applaud Speaker Smith for championing this legislation and encourage members of the State Senate strongly consider its passage.”
First Step Toward Trimming Pennsylvania Legislature
“State House members have approved a bill that could eventually eliminate 50 seats in their own chamber and 12 seats in the state Senate.” (Wilson, Mary. First Step Toward Trimming Pennsylvania Legislature. Essential Public Radio. Thursday, April 5, 2012.)
Pa. House approves measure to reduce Legislature
Pennsylvanians moved a step closer Wednesday to being able to decide whether to shrink the size of their Legislature, following a vote in the House of Representatives in favor of a constitutional amendment.
The House voted 140-49 to cut their own ranks from 203 to 153, and to reduce the number of senators from 50 to 38.
The proposal remains a long way from being enacted, because it still would have to pass the Senate in the current session, be approved again by both chambers in the next two-year session and then pass a voter referendum.
“This legislation is about us doing a better job,” said Speaker Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, the sponsor. “To those who say it’s not enough reform, it’s not real reform, well, it wasn’t proposed as the end-all to reforming the legislative world.” (Associated Press. Pa. House approves measure to reduce Legislature. April 4, 2012.)
Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives would shrink under a legislative proposal
Supporters said a smaller House would make government more efficient and reduce costs.
“Government should be rightsized,” the committee’s chairman, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R., Butler), said. “We should do more with less.” (Worden, Amy. Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives would shrink under a legislative proposal. Philadelphia Inquirer. January 25, 2012)
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