| |
|
| |
| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| |
| HOUSE RESOLUTION |
|
| |
| |
| INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DEASY, DeLUCA, DRUCKER, FAIRCHILD, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, GROVE, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, KOTIK, LENTZ, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARKOSEK, MATZIE, METZGAR, MILNE, MURT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SCAVELLO, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER, WANSACZ, WATERS, YUDICHAK, ROAE AND BEAR, DECEMBER 15, 2009 |
| |
| |
| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 15, 2009 |
| |
| |
| |
| A RESOLUTION |
| |
1 | Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a |
2 | comprehensive study of the current number of legislative |
3 | districts within this Commonwealth, proposals to amend the |
4 | Constitution of Pennsylvania to reduce the size of the |
5 | General Assembly and the potential impact of the proposed |
6 | reduction on cost, constituent services, work performed by |
7 | members and staff, legislative effectiveness and efficiency |
8 | and representation of constituent interests. |
9 | WHEREAS, Under section 16 of Article II of the Constitution |
10 | of Pennsylvania, this Commonwealth is divided into 50 senatorial |
11 | and 203 representative districts; and |
12 | WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the sixth most populous state and |
13 | ranks seventh in constituents per senatorial district and |
14 | fourteenth in constituents per representative district in the |
15 | nation; and |
16 | WHEREAS, Many Pennsylvanians have expressed support for |
17 | reducing the number of legislative districts in this |
18 | Commonwealth; and |
|
1 | WHEREAS, Several bills proposing to amend the Constitution of |
2 | Pennsylvania to reduce the size of the General Assembly have |
3 | been introduced; and |
4 | WHEREAS, These bills vary greatly in the scope of proposed |
5 | reductions to the size of the General Assembly, ranging from |
6 | radical to modest reductions; and |
7 | WHEREAS, Data have been collected to show the amount |
8 | Commonwealth taxpayers currently spend on the General Assembly, |
9 | including its members, staff and other operational support; and |
10 | WHEREAS, Various interested parties have used this data to |
11 | suggest a savings by reducing the size of the General Assembly, |
12 | but there has been no comprehensive study of potential savings |
13 | and other issues related to downsizing the General Assembly; and |
14 | WHEREAS, It is necessary to collect appropriate and |
15 | applicable information on the potential impact of legislative |
16 | downsizing given the significant effect a reduction in the size |
17 | of the General Assembly would have on the Commonwealth's |
18 | government and residents; therefore be it |
19 | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint |
20 | State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of |
21 | the current number of legislative districts within this |
22 | Commonwealth, proposals to amend the Constitution of |
23 | Pennsylvania to reduce the size of the General Assembly and the |
24 | potential impact of the proposed reduction on cost, constituent |
25 | services, work performed by members and staff, legislative |
26 | effectiveness and efficiency and representation of constituent |
27 | interests; and be it further |
28 | RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission review |
29 | and analyze information relating to the Commonwealth |
30 | specifically and to other state legislatures generally when |
|
1 | conducting the study; and be it further |
2 | RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission review |
3 | and consider information relating to the following questions |
4 | when analyzing the current number of legislative districts |
5 | within this Commonwealth and proposals to reduce the size of the |
6 | General Assembly and when making recommendations regarding the |
7 | proposed downsizing of the legislature: |
8 | (1) Whether a reduction in the size of the General |
9 | Assembly would result in a cost savings for Pennsylvania |
10 | taxpayers. |
11 | (2) Whether a reduction in the size of the General |
12 | Assembly would lead to an increase or a decrease in the size |
13 | of the staff complement. |
14 | (3) How a reduction in the size of the General Assembly |
15 | affects constituent services and the ability of legislators |
16 | to effectively represent constituent interests. |
17 | (4) Whether there is an optimal size for a |
18 | representative district and a senatorial district in this |
19 | Commonwealth. |
20 | (5) How a reduction in the size of the General Assembly |
21 | affects the legislative process; |
22 | and be it further |
23 | RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report |
24 | its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no |
25 | later than December 1, 2010. |
|