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

Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a

comprehensive study of the current number of legislative

districts within this Commonwealth, proposals to amend the

Constitution of Pennsylvania to reduce the size of the

General Assembly and the potential impact of the proposed

reduction on cost, constituent services, work performed by

members and staff, legislative effectiveness and efficiency

and representation of constituent interests.  

WHEREAS, Under section 16 of Article II of the Constitution

of Pennsylvania, this Commonwealth is divided into 50 senatorial

and 203 representative districts; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the sixth most populous state and

ranks seventh in constituents per senatorial district and

fourteenth in constituents per representative district in the

nation; and

WHEREAS, Many Pennsylvanians have expressed support for

reducing the number of legislative districts in this

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Several bills proposing to amend the Constitution of

Pennsylvania to reduce the size of the General Assembly have

been introduced; and

WHEREAS, These bills vary greatly in the scope of proposed

reductions to the size of the General Assembly, ranging from

radical to modest reductions; and

WHEREAS, Data have been collected to show the amount

Commonwealth taxpayers currently spend on the General Assembly,

including its members, staff and other operational support; and

WHEREAS, Various interested parties have used this data to

suggest a savings by reducing the size of the General Assembly,

but there has been no comprehensive study of potential savings

and other issues related to downsizing the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary to collect appropriate and

applicable information on the potential impact of legislative

downsizing given the significant effect a reduction in the size

of the General Assembly would have on the Commonwealth's

government and residents; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint

State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of

the current number of legislative districts within this

Commonwealth, proposals to amend the Constitution of

Pennsylvania to reduce the size of the General Assembly and the

potential impact of the proposed reduction on cost, constituent

services, work performed by members and staff, legislative

effectiveness and efficiency and representation of constituent

interests; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission review

and analyze information relating to the Commonwealth

specifically and to other state legislatures generally when

conducting the study; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission review

and consider information relating to the following questions

when analyzing the current number of legislative districts

within this Commonwealth and proposals to reduce the size of the

General Assembly and when making recommendations regarding the

proposed downsizing of the legislature:

(1)  Whether a reduction in the size of the General

Assembly would result in a cost savings for Pennsylvania

taxpayers.

(2)  Whether a reduction in the size of the General

Assembly would lead to an increase or a decrease in the size

of the staff complement.

(3)  How a reduction in the size of the General Assembly

affects constituent services and the ability of legislators

to effectively represent constituent interests.

(4)  Whether there is an optimal size for a

representative district and a senatorial district in this

Commonwealth.

(5)  How a reduction in the size of the General Assembly

affects the legislative process;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report

its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no

later than December 1, 2010.