Another Attempt to Reduce
Size of PA Legislature
In an effort to reduce the cost of state government, Senator Michael O’Pake plans to once again introduce legislation to cut the size of the legislature.
Senator O’Pake’s proposal, which he first introduced in 1997 and reintroduced in every session thereafter, would reduce the number of Senators to 40 and representatives to 121. With 50 Senators and 203 Representatives, Pennsylvania now has the second-largest legislature in the country.
The Democratic Whip says his proposal to reduce the number of legislative districts will be his first item of business in the 2009-2010 legislative session.
“I’ll be reintroducing my proposal as soon as bills can be filed in the Senate,” Senator O’Pake said. “Whatever need existed in the 1870s for 253 legislators, it doesn’t exist today, and taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for government they don’t need. It’s time to do this.
“Cost effectiveness is a critical issue now more than ever with the state having to look for savings wherever they can be found,” the Reading Democrat said. “The savings in legislative salaries and benefits alone from my legislation would be more than $12 million.”
The state Constitution would need to be amended, requiring the proposal to be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and win approval from the voters in a referendum.
State lawmakers who were elected or re-elected in the November 4th Election will be sworn into office on Tuesday, January 6, at the State Capitol. They’ll return to Harrisburg two weeks later to begin the new legislative session.
Senator O’Pake’s proposal, which he first introduced in 1997 and reintroduced in every session thereafter, would reduce the number of Senators to 40 and representatives to 121. With 50 Senators and 203 Representatives, Pennsylvania now has the second-largest legislature in the country.
The Democratic Whip says his proposal to reduce the number of legislative districts will be his first item of business in the 2009-2010 legislative session.
“I’ll be reintroducing my proposal as soon as bills can be filed in the Senate,” Senator O’Pake said. “Whatever need existed in the 1870s for 253 legislators, it doesn’t exist today, and taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for government they don’t need. It’s time to do this.
“Cost effectiveness is a critical issue now more than ever with the state having to look for savings wherever they can be found,” the Reading Democrat said. “The savings in legislative salaries and benefits alone from my legislation would be more than $12 million.”
The state Constitution would need to be amended, requiring the proposal to be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and win approval from the voters in a referendum.
State lawmakers who were elected or re-elected in the November 4th Election will be sworn into office on Tuesday, January 6, at the State Capitol. They’ll return to Harrisburg two weeks later to begin the new legislative session.
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Comments
Our government is TOO large, it is about time we down size our state Senators and Representatives...after all, quit a few businesses in the commonwealth have been forced to down size or close their doors.
Too many businesses have gone out of business and the tax dollars are just not there to keep dishing out $12 Million dollars!