Governor Ed Rendell agrees with advocates who think Pennsylvania's 253-member legislature is too big.
But, "Do you want to reduce the size of the legislature? Everybody says yes. Ok, are you willing to have your legislator go away in the reduction? Oh no no, not our guy," Rendell said.
But the governor is touring the state championing other reforms and he wants Pennsylvanians to get behind him.
Number one is campaign finance reform.
"We have to limit the level of contributions. We have to limit what PACs can do as well. We've got to also make sure that lobbyists are not allowed to contribute politically," explained the governor.
Second is to allow citizens to serve on a panel that sets the re-apportionment of legislative and congressional districts, setting new boundaries after each census.
"Right now, the politicians control and they carve out these districts to make sure the incumbents never lose. Well, that's not a healthy system at all," said Rendell.
The third is merit selection of statewide judges instead of the current system where they are elected.
"A citizen panel makes recommendations to the governor. The governor must pick off the list that's recommended and then they become judges, somewhat like the federal process," the governor explained.
Rendell has a little more than one year left in office. He will use that year to urge Pennsylvanians to press their legislators for these reforms.
"Remember, the citizens made a lot of changes after the pay raise. These three things that I've talked about are more important than the pay raise," Rendell added.
"The system in Harrisburg is all screwed up. The special interests control the process," the governor added.
He wants voter to contact their local lawmakers and demand these reforms.
But, "Do you want to reduce the size of the legislature? Everybody says yes. Ok, are you willing to have your legislator go away in the reduction? Oh no no, not our guy," Rendell said.
But the governor is touring the state championing other reforms and he wants Pennsylvanians to get behind him.
Number one is campaign finance reform.
"We have to limit the level of contributions. We have to limit what PACs can do as well. We've got to also make sure that lobbyists are not allowed to contribute politically," explained the governor.
Second is to allow citizens to serve on a panel that sets the re-apportionment of legislative and congressional districts, setting new boundaries after each census.
"Right now, the politicians control and they carve out these districts to make sure the incumbents never lose. Well, that's not a healthy system at all," said Rendell.
The third is merit selection of statewide judges instead of the current system where they are elected.
"A citizen panel makes recommendations to the governor. The governor must pick off the list that's recommended and then they become judges, somewhat like the federal process," the governor explained.
Rendell has a little more than one year left in office. He will use that year to urge Pennsylvanians to press their legislators for these reforms.
"Remember, the citizens made a lot of changes after the pay raise. These three things that I've talked about are more important than the pay raise," Rendell added.
"The system in Harrisburg is all screwed up. The special interests control the process," the governor added.
He wants voter to contact their local lawmakers and demand these reforms.
