Jan. 27, 2016
A bill to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the Senate today by a vote of 43-6, Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana County) said. The bill already passed the House last year by a vote of 139-56.
House Bill 153, authored by Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Schuylkill County), would reduce the House of Representatives to 153 members from 203.
“Constituents often tell us they want state government to scale back, but in an effective, efficient and responsible way, and today’s votes shows the Legislature is listening,” Reed said. “Moving toward a smaller, more efficient Legislature represents a step into the future and toward a better, just as responsive, state government.”
With 253 members, the Pennsylvania General Assembly is the second-largest in the country.
With a current population of more than 12.7 million people, the proposed 153 House districts each would represent about 83,022 people, which is not a significant change from 62,573 with the current 203 districts.
While the overall number of legislators would be reduced under House Bill 153, according to Reed, the ratio of representation between urban and rural areas remains equivalent.
“We are working to right-size Pennsylvania’s government – the Legislature needs to put its own house in order,” Reed said. “Using today’s communications tools, we can ensure everyone across the state has a strong voice in the House.”
To change the size of the Legislature requires an amendment to the state Constitution, which means the same bill must be debated and passed in two consecutive sessions, and subsequently approved by referendum vote of the people of Pennsylvania. Today’s vote marks the first session; it needs to be voted again in the 2017-18 Legislative Session.
Representative Dave Reed, Majority Leader
62ns Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives