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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Matt Smith www.pahouse.com/Msmith State Rep. Randy Vulakovich www.repvulakovich.com |
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Smith and Vulakovich call for reduction in funding for General Assembly
HARRISBURG, Feb. 13 – State Reps. Matt Smith and Randy Vulakovich, both freshmen lawmakers from Allegheny County, today held a Capitol news conference to call for a 20 percent reduction in the funding allocation for the General Assembly in the 2008-09 state budget.
The lawmakers said such a funding cut would help to restore the public’s trust, and would demonstrate that members of the legislature can be good stewards of public dollars.
“In my first term as a representative, I am looking for ways to reduce government spending in a responsible way that still allows the legislature to effectively serve the general public,” Smith said. “I believe that we can absorb a 20 percent reduction in funding and still meet the needs of the people we represent.
"I commend the Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform for bringing this issue to the forefront and I am happy to assist in building bipartisan support among my freshmen colleagues for this important action," Smith said. "This will be a very important issue to me at budget time and I want to make it clear that I will aggressively push for this cost reduction during budget negotiations. I believe this will place the General Assembly on a path to operate in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.”
“Pennsylvania taxpayers are currently footing the bill for the second-largest and second-most-expensive legislature in the nation, behind only California,” said Vulakovich. "As one of 50 freshmen state lawmakers, I gave my word to the people who elected me that I would do everything within my power to work to reduce the overall size of the state legislature. I firmly believe that an overall 20 percent reduction in the total legislative branch operating budget is without question a giant reform leap we must voluntarily pursue to bring the cost of our General Assembly in line with other states.
“I fully realize that in the end I have but one vote to cast. Ultimately, my floor vote on this and every other reform issue reflects back on my original voter commitments, and as a result are solemn pledges I intend to keep,” Vulakovich added.
According to the Speaker's Commission, the cost to operate the General Assembly is $23.01 per Pennsylvania taxpayer. A 20 percent reduction in the General Assembly budget would result in a savings of approximately $62 million based on the 2007-08 appropriation.
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CONTACT: Mike Storm |