Lawmaker considers cutting state legislature in half

The House Majority Policy Committee will take a look at the feasibility of eliminating the entire state Senate during a hearing in Philadelphia on April 6.

The House Majority Policy Committee will take a look at the feasibility of eliminating the entire state Senate during a hearing in Philadelphia on April 6.

Representative Mike Sturla, a Lancaster County Democrat, points out there’s been a lot of recent talk about shrinking the General Assembly.

But instead of discussing a 10, 20 or 30 percent reduction in the number of seats, Sturla wants to take a look at the possibility of merging the House and Senate into a unicameral body.

Sturla: “This doesn’t just reduce the cost by a couple percent, it eliminates an entire body – the state Senate. So it cuts the cost of the state legislature in half.”

Nebraska is the only state with a one-chamber legislature.

Sturla says that, in addition to saving money, the move would make legislation more efficient.

He argues that, right now, the House and Senate waste a lot of time passing bills the other chamber simply ignores.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi dismissed the bill.

Erik Arneson says the House should focus on “crafting a responsible state budget.”