State Representatives Bryan Cutler (R-100 Peach Bottom), Gordon Denlinger (R-99 Ephrata) & Tim Krieger (R-57 Delmont) have introduced HB1554 which would make full-time state legislators part-time.
In a press release issued earlier today, the combined representatives said that this legislation “should be the first step toward reform”.
“One clear path to tangible reform is switching to a part-time legislature in Pennsylvania. With that in mind, we have introduced House Bill 1554, which would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to return the General Assembly to its foundation as a part-time citizens’ legislature. Under this proposal, the legislature would be in session for 60 days, every two years during which time a two-year budget would be debated and passed.”
“For the remainder of their terms, individual representatives would return home to regular jobs, unless called into emergency session by the governor or a majority of the members of the legislature. Perhaps best of all, members of the General Assembly would receive part-time pay for part-time work.”
“In addition to substantially reducing the total amount spent on salaries, staff and other expenses, changing the makeup of the General Assembly from a body of professional politicians in the nation’s largest full-time legislature to a body of citizen legislators would end much of the opportunity for waste, abuse, and corruption we have seen coming out of Harrisburg. “
“Managed properly, the Legislature can complete the people’s business without being in session for the entire term. Pennsylvania could succeed with a part-time legislature just like Virginia and Texas, and could focus on the important issues without being bombarded by special interests and coerced into bad public policy.”
“House Bill 1554 is currently awaiting consideration by the House State Government Committee. It is our hope that the committee will hold hearings and consider the legislation’s merits so it can be sent to the floor for debate by the full House.”
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Sounds like a good idea to me, the problem is you would have to get the general assembly to vote for a pay cut.
It’s hard enough to keep them from voting for pay raises.
Reducing the Federal Government would be a worthy objective. If it were possible to cut the size, and the excess, in D.C; then, we could attempt to streamline the State Government.
While Washington continues to intrude on States’ Rights, to compel States to sink deeper into the Federal mire, it’s not a good time to handicap Pennsylvania. It is time to make Pennsylvania work smoothly.
I prefer smaller Federal Government and more efficient State Government.
Finally someone that makes sense. Now lets move onto term limits, the infamous per dium and use of the cauacus as a marketing company. Why do they promote the ID and the image of a member and advocate a postion on an issue using taxpayer dollars?