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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Steven Santarsiero |
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Bill to reduce Pa. House reported out of committee
HARRISBURG, Jan. 24 – State Rep. Steven Santarsiero, D-Bucks, voted to send a bill to the full House today aimed at reducing the size of the legislature.
The House State Government Committee reported out H.B. 153, which would cut the size of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by 50 members, from the current 203 to 153.
"This is the first step in a long process," Santarsiero said. "Today we report out the bill so there can be a full debate in the House and it can move through the rest of the process, and then happen again next session. This is slow and deliberate process for a reason and the time is now to begin that discussion."
As Santarsiero noted, the Pennsylvania Constitution must be amended to decrease the legislature's size, which means the bill first must pass in two consecutive sessions and go before the voters for approval. If voters approve, the reduction would go into effect after the 2020 U.S. Census.
Santarsiero said that today's bill is just one of several reform bills that must be addressed.
"This is an important reform, but it doesn't happen in a vacuum, which is why other reforms must be addressed," he said.
"The influence of money is a very real concern. I have become a proponent of campaign finance reform, with strict caps on spending and contributions. There also is a need for reform in redistricting. This year's redrawing of the congressional districts proves that it is necessary to put redistricting in the hands of a nonpartisan commission as several states already do," Santarsiero said.
Santarsiero has introduced several reform measures in the House, including legislation that would begin the process for a federal convention to amend the U.S. Constitution in order to limit campaign contributions and expenditures. States may propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution if two thirds of the state legislatures apply to Congress.
"The Supreme Court in Citizens United ruled that government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections. The influence of these powerful entities on politics is a growing concern and threatens political participation and our democracy."
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