Harrisburg Report - October 29, 2009
After witnessing the budget process first hand, for the first time as a freshman lawmaker, I have no doubts that reform is desperately needed in Harrisburg. The critical question that needs answering is what type of reforms should be enacted to make our state government more reflective of, and responsive to, the needs of the people?
It is difficult to entirely separate personality and politics from the budget process. Until recently, however, the process has worked much more smoothly.
Before Governor Rendell first took office in 2002, the state budget was late only four times between 1971 and 2001. Since 2002, however, all seven of the Rendell budgets have been passed after the June 30 deadline—this year’s 101-day budget impasse was the longest of all 50 states.
During Governor Rendell’s tenure, state spending has increased from $20 billion to $29 billion, an almost 40 percent increase. As bad as those numbers are, they tell only part of the story.
The Governor has also increased state borrowing from $23 billion to $40 billion, thereby increasing annual taxpayer interest payments from $300 million to almost $1 billion. I do not think it is partisan politics to note these simple facts, and to allow readers to draw their own conclusions about the cause.
Regardless of the particular difficulties we have faced throughout the Rendell years, the state’s political culture is badly in need of real reform.
Here is one idea I am advocating as a start: a Part-Time Legislature. I am one of three main sponsors of House Bill 1554 which would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to return the General Assembly to its foundation as a part-time citizen’s Legislature.
Under this proposal, the Legislature would be in session for 60 days every two years. During that time, a two-year budget would be debated and passed.
For the remainder of their terms, individual representatives would return home to regular jobs, unless called into emergency session by the governor or a majority of the members of the Legislature. Members of the General Assembly would receive part-time pay for part-time work.
In addition to substantially reducing the total amount spent on salaries, staff and per diems, changing the make-up of the General Assembly from a body of professional politicians to a body of citizen legislators would perhaps end much of the nonsense we have come to expect from Harrisburg.
Managed properly, the Legislature can get its work done without being in session for the entire term. Other states, such as Virginia and Texas manage with a part-time legislature; so can we. In fact, as an added bonus, I would argue that a part-time Legislature would be better able to focus on the important issues, while eliminating much of silliness and corruption we often see coming out of state government.
Rep. Tim Krieger
57th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(724) 834-6400
Contact: Ty McCauslin
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 772-9979