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GUEST COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Matt Smith |
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New budget should reduce General Assembly's cost
By Rep. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny
I recently wrote about the cost of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. As I stated, I firmly believe that we must do more for less. According to the Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform, it costs each Pennsylvania taxpayer $23.01 to operate the legislature. I believe it is vital to reduce this cost and that this significant reform must be a priority in the 2008-09 state budget negotiations
Gov. Rendell announced his budget proposal on Feb. 5. With the start of the 2008-09 budget season, I am reiterating my call to cut the budget for the General Assembly. The total cost of the legislature in the 2007-08 state budget was approximately $330 million, so a 20 percent cut would save Pennsylvania taxpayers about $66 million.
There are many ways that we can work to reduce the cost of our General Assembly. In 2007, the Speaker's Commission suggested several steps. The proposed steps include: independent audits at the conclusion of each two-year session; conversion of all non-policy positions from partisan caucus positions to non-partisan positions; consolidation of facilities such as printing facilities; a benchmarking study to identify current staff levels and possible reductions; and limitations on the accumulation and retention of legislative reserves.
During budget negotiations, I will work in a bipartisan manner to accomplish these common-sense ways to save significant money. Indeed, as I previously stated, saving taxpayers $66 million is not a Republican or Democratic idea or a partisan notion at all – it is simply a good government idea, and the time for action is now.
Finally, I firmly believe that these costs must be permanently trimmed from the General Fund budget and not simply allocated to another place for the legislature to use. For instance, the money can be used to lower property taxes to help all homeowners, lower business taxes to help create jobs, or lower the cost of a college education. In order to compete in the 21st century, we must act to create an efficient and effective state government. Reducing the General Assembly’s cost is the best way to start.
Rep. Matt Smith represents the 42nd Legislative District of Allegheny County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He can be contacted at 412-571-2169 or through his Web site at www.pahouse.com/msmith.
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CONTACT: Mike Storm |