Letter to the editor: Now is the time to reduce Pa. Legislature

There is no better time to press politicians to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania Legislature.

Why? Because currently the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, at 203 members, is the largest full-time state House in the country. Because the state budget is in turmoil from covid-19. Because in 2015, when House Bill 153 to reduce House membership to 151 was approved (but not passed into law in a subsequent year), the House Appropriations Committee estimated the reduction would save $10 million to $15 million per year.

Because our Republicans made the unforgivable decision not to inform their Democratic colleagues that a GOP member who had been in contact with Democrats on committees was covid-19-positive and working with them at a time when he could have been infectious. Because during that time some GOP House members were quietly quarantining, while others who knew about the quarantining were actively encouraging “end the lockdown” protests.

So much hypocrisy. Speaker Mike Turzai should be removed if he does not resign for this deception. His GOP colleagues do not deserve reelection. Redrawing voting districts fairly would reduce the number of members while helping to remove this human detritus.

All PA candidates need to be pressured about cost savings from a reduction. And any GOP candidates need to be pressed hard about their ethics.

Helen Sitler

Ligonier