Speaker Sam Smith Wants To Cut Pa. House By 50 Members

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The speaker of the Pennsylvania House is preparing legislation aimed at reducing the size of the chamber.

Shortly after Republicans retook the majority in the state House last November, Speaker Sam Smith (right) indicated an interest in reducing the size of the House, and now Smith is seeking co-sponsors on a bill he plans to introduce in the coming weeks that would cut the chamber's membership by 50 seats.

Smith spokesman Stephen Miskin says right now the House can be pretty unwieldy.

"Inefficiency in getting things done. When you have the 203 currently, you know, over the last four years clearly there was dysfunction in the House of Representatives. And that also coincided with people really losing their trust in frustration in state government."

Smith's legislation would not affect the 50 member Senate. It would require an amendment to the state constitution, which means it would have to be approved in back-to-back two-year sessions of the legislature and then by voters.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio