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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 27, 2022 01:43 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Valerie S. Gaydos |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Reducing the Size of the General Assembly - Prior Session HB 482 |
| Our constituents often express that they want state government to scale back in an efficient, effective, and responsible way. With 253 members, Pennsylvania is ranked as the second largest state legislature in the nation according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Based on the 2020 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania is ranked fifth in population – following California, Texas, New York, and Florida. If you examine the legislatures of the top eight states on the population list, you’ll notice that each of those eight states, even those with a smaller population than Pennsylvania, have fewer legislators and larger districts. For example, Michigan’s population is 10,077,331 and each of their 110 house members represent 91,612 constituents, compared to Pennsylvania’s population of 13,002,700 with 203 districts of 64,052 constituents. With the constant improvement and evolution of technology, legislators can respond to constituents more quickly and efficiently than ever, and as such save taxpayers’ money. Utilizing existing technology would make it possible to reduce the size of the legislature without sacrificing efficiency, communication with our constituents, or increasing expenses. Furthermore, a smaller, more efficient legislature would allow for a more robust discussion and clearer debates, providing more time to each member to have his or her voice heard. With that in mind, I will be introducing legislation to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to 151 members. This would increase the size of the House districts by approximately a third, bringing the ratio of lawmakers in Pennsylvania more in line with other states. Legislation identical to my proposal has received bipartisan support, having previously passed both chambers in 2015-16. In an effort to produce savings, increase efficiency, and to promote public confidence in our institution, please join me in sponsoring this legislation. Prior Session Co-sponsors: GAYDOS, KNOWLES, KAUFFMAN, DUNBAR, PISCIOTTANO, BROOKS, CONKLIN, THOMAS, MIZGORSKI, MENTZER, METCALFE, GLEIM, WHEELAND, GROVE, COOK, SOLOMON, BERNSTINE, STEPHENS, R. MACKENZIE, BONNER, O'NEAL, GILLESPIE, ROAE, GILLEN, B. MILLER and DELOZIER |
Introduced as HB444