Smaller Legislature Reaction
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: April 5, 2012
HOLLIDAYSBURG, BLAIR COUNTY - Legislators across the region are reacting to the move in Harrisburg to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania Legislature. While the bill was approved by a wide margin in the House of Representatives this week, plenty of legislators from this region have concerns about the effort. With one of largest and most expensive legislatures in the entire country, there appears to be plenty of public support for rolling back the number of Pennsylvania Lawmakers. But some opponents say the move could hurt this region.
Supporters of the effort to reduce the number of lawmakers in Pennsylvania by about 25% say the move is all about streamlining government and making it more cost effective. But opponents say simply cutting the number of lawmakers might not accomplish those goals.
While it would be a full decade before any move to shrink the legislatures would be implemented, passing the bill at this time would send the message that the legislative branch of government is willing to reduce its size and try to contain and reduce its costs at the same time that many people are trying to get government spending under control across the board.
While the amount of money to be saved by down-sizing the legislature is still be debated, supporters of the move believe the smaller legislature could be more efficient but some opponents say the bigger districts required might make it harder for voters to bring their concerns to their legislators.
Because it would take an amendment to the state constitution to reduce the number of legislators, this is a process that would require a public referendum will take at least a couple of years to complete.
Supporters of the effort to reduce the number of lawmakers in Pennsylvania by about 25% say the move is all about streamlining government and making it more cost effective. But opponents say simply cutting the number of lawmakers might not accomplish those goals.
While it would be a full decade before any move to shrink the legislatures would be implemented, passing the bill at this time would send the message that the legislative branch of government is willing to reduce its size and try to contain and reduce its costs at the same time that many people are trying to get government spending under control across the board.
While the amount of money to be saved by down-sizing the legislature is still be debated, supporters of the move believe the smaller legislature could be more efficient but some opponents say the bigger districts required might make it harder for voters to bring their concerns to their legislators.
Because it would take an amendment to the state constitution to reduce the number of legislators, this is a process that would require a public referendum will take at least a couple of years to complete.
