PA Speaker Seeks to Cut 50 Members from House

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Speaker Sam Smith introduced legislation on Tuesday aimed at slashing the current number of House members by 25 percent.

Currently there are 203 House members. Smith seeks to reduce that number by 50.

Smith says the reduction will increase the efficiency of chamber deliberations.

The measure will require a constitutional amendment to become effective. That will take both chambers passing the measure in two successive legislative sessions before being brought before voters for approval.

The measure currently has fifty-nine co-sponsors.