Pa. House considers proposals to shrink assembly

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is about to examine competing proposals to cut the size of the General Assembly.

The House State Government Committee today was scheduled to take up a handful of different approaches to reducing the 253-member Legislature.

Proponents say it would make the assembly run better and cost less, while opponents are concerned that fewer representatives or senators would reduce the public’s voice in Harrisburg.

Such a chance would require a constitutional amendment, which has to pass the Legislature in consecutive two-year sessions before going to a voters for final approval.