Pa. State Senator Lisa Boscola (D - Lehigh/Northampton) wants to trim the state house membership from 203 to 101, and the state senate from 50 to 38. Though no Bill has been formally submitted, she has circulated this memo to seek cosponsors:
Soon, I will be introducing legislation to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Under this proposal, the House of Representatives would decrease from 203 members to 101 members, and the Senate would decrease from 50 members to 38 members.
Pennsylvania currently has the largest full-time state legislature in the nation. While the importance of strong constituent representation cannot be overstated, the size and cost of our legislature have become unsustainable and outdated for the needs of a modern and efficient government.
This proposal is about responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Fewer legislators will reduce the overall cost of government by lowering expenses related to salaries, benefits, staffing, and daily operational costs. It will also allow us to modernize how we serve our constituents, taking full advantage of technological tools that make it easier than ever for elected officials to stay connected to the people they represent, even within larger districts.
Beyond the fiscal and procedural benefits, this reform is a direct response to what we continue to hear from voters across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians have repeatedly expressed their desire for a smaller, more efficient, and more accountable legislature. This legislation offers a real opportunity to deliver on that expectation.
I urge you to join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.
She has also suggested that the state should go on a two-year budget cycle, which would certainly be helpful to county and other municipal governments.
Unfortunatley, similar efforts in the past have failed.
40 comments:
She is up for election next year. Another piece of legislation that will go nowhere, like her property tax relief bill she introduces every year. If she wants to reduce number of legislatures, maybe she can start with herself. She probably drafted that memo next to the pool at the country club. 30+ years Lisa, please go away.
Why would they vote to eliminate their own jobs? Merits or not they’d just combine two Philly districts the same way they’ll combine two districts that take up 4 counties in rural Pa. And those in rural Pa will suffer even worse services from this. But anything to get Lisa another headline that’s not about a DUI
She is a great talker but a do nothing person.
Just like term limits and a new way to fund schools sure for the last 50 years.
It'll never happen but i wish it would.
Did she come up with this during happy hour? Time she burps her drunken self out the door
Term limits would work….especially for her
I asked several AI platforms what are percentage chances of shrinking the PA legislature. They were in remarkable agreement at minus-2,000%. I think she may be drinking again.
Excellent idea....one I have been suggesting for years. I might even begin with reducing the number of counties from 67 to a dozen or so, and school districts to one in each county. Remember, a school district is just another government with taxing powers. No need to eliminate schools, teams, etc. Just one county-wide administration would save millions of dollars. For those concerned about 'services', each new 'county' would simply have enough staff to cover the needs.
And take samelson with you
They are politicians they will never do what is good for the citizens if they are involved in correcting something that is wrong that will affect them.
This idea has been floated for years. Has she been a cosponsor of this previously? I doubt it
That's a bill you introduce right before you retire. A sign of things to come?
A better idea is a unicameral legislature like Nebraska and eliminate the Lt Governor like NJ.
Same should be done with local municipalities and bloated school districts!
How about amending the Fiscal Code to eliminate the Allentown NIZ?
I live in a more rural part of the County. The last thing I want is to be lumped into a district that has to cater to Allentown. Yes a larger legislature is more money, but it protects my interests. Besides, Allentown has received over $1 billion in NIZ money, when is enough enough?
Boscola is a bag of wind along with all the other state political people and some are corrupt as many politicians are.
With a unicameral legislature keeping the house as is but making the term 4 years with half elected every 2 years would answer your concerns.
Yes, because Jersey is an example all states should aspire to.
NOT!
Agree. Frankly a bigger concern is school district taxes....that should be taken up by somebody. Paying more and kids still can't read or write
What a joke.
I agree, and put term limits into the legislation!
She's an imposter
This is a fantastic proposal, and as such it will be deep sixed.
She's an embarrassment!
I have a bridge to sell you if you believe these politicians.
She’s been claiming to eliminate property taxes for about 30 years.
I think Lisa needed a headline.
Funny she doesn’t mention cutting the 100k salary, car allowance, and per diems for what amounts to a part time job lol. Gold plated health care and a 3 multiplier pension while the people who actually work get a 2.5 multiplier. Go do another shot Lisa.
I am still waiting for the property school tax that you promised to do away with everytime you run for election and nothing has been done. Maybe it can go away for seniors at a certain age maybe 65 to 70. I know of too many elderly that lost their home due to not being able to pay school taxes. After 3 years of not paying guess what sheriff sale. Lisa you promised so many times to try and help us than you get elected and you turn your back on us,
Good comment, absolutely agree with 7:19!
One outcome of this proposal would be even less access by We the People to our representatives. Try to get an appointment with your PA representative and see how long it will take you. Six months minimum and that's with persistence and pressure. Then you may get half an hour to speak. This is not a move that benefits us.
Start locally with the bloated school districts and work up from there. 10:38 PM hit the nail squarely on its head.
Government now certainly doesn't exist for the good of the electorate. We need to start speaking out before we're simply observers and not participants.
No one should be losing their homes simply due to a property tax that rises maybe $30 per year.
Take all of them with you- we have feckless representatives like Emrick, Freeman and the creepy Schlossberg.
Bravo
Go ahead Lisa, I dare you to find a way to help seniors and others reduce their property school taxes…wash, Rinse, Repeat Lisa….SOS different campaign year!
I absolutely agree however will never happen in the good ole Commonwealth. See in Pa the municipalities hold all the power! States nor counties can push for anything. And egotistical municipal board folk and employees would fight tooth and nail to not lose their small kingdoms.
Same as school districts. The smaller ones should be absorbed into larger districts but those pesky Act 93 administrators and teachers unions would never, ever, ever allow consolidation of schools.
School are important and teachers shall be recognized as one of the most respected positions out there but do most really have to make $85,000 (give or take) at year five? Oh and have continuing education funded whether full or partially? I mean it’s great to continue education but they got the job on what they had, they shall pay 100% for everything else just as normal folks do.
Either way we can sit back and dream all we want but it will never, ever, ever happen.
Ypir missi g the point. $5000 dollar school tax every year is significant when you're old on a fixed income. Can't even afford medicare anymore
She opened an office in Bangor last year- tells you everything you need to know.
Better than that, we pay for them to get their Masters Degree. Then they get a pay raise from us for having the Masters Degree that we paid for. It’s such a scam.
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