{"id":43683,"date":"2025-11-25T00:37:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T00:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/43683\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T00:37:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T00:37:08","slug":"could-pennsylvanias-legislature-go-part-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/43683\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Pennsylvania\u2019s legislature go part-time?"},"content":{"rendered":"

(WHTM) \u2014 Pennsylvania\u2019s budget was late, and critics say lawmakers\u2019 accomplishments have been light. Is it time for one of the nation\u2019s most expensive full-time legislatures to go part-time?<\/p>\n

Yes, say lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, but don\u2019t hold your breath.<\/p>\n

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Rep. Arvind Venkat is a Democratic State representative from Pittsburgh and is also an emergency physician.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen a patient with a Republican or Democratic heart attack,\u201d said Venkat.<\/p>\n

This doc would like to perform surgery on the General Assembly, supporting a bill by Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R) to make Pennsylvania\u2019s full-time legislature go part-time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we look around the country, the effectiveness of our legislature simply does not rate compared to those that have a part-time legislature with a fixed legislative session,\u201d said Venkat.<\/p>\n

This bill would put lawmakers in Harrisburg from January to March, and one of the nation\u2019s most expensive legislatures would be less so.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy to co-sponsor a constitutional amendment from colleague with whom I have no agreement except on this issue, because I think Pennsylvanians deserve that credit report,\u201d said Venkat.<\/p>\n

Republican State Rep. Seth Grove (R) is not seeking re-election. He used to be a fierce defender of the full-time legislature, but no more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something I have changed my position on,\u201d said Grove. \u201cI started talking to my colleagues from other states and realized we are in the same amount of session days as part-time legislatures, and they\u2019re getting more done in their three-month, 45-day sessions than we do in a full year.\u201d<\/p>\n

A part-time legislature, Grove once believed, and opponents argue, would be bulldozed by full-time staff and special interests.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpecial interests run Harrisburg now, like there\u2019s a difference between special interests running Harrisburg as a full-time or a part-time,\u201d said Grove.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s financial interests. Lawmakers make at least $106,000; what\u2019s the likelihood that enough of them vote to cut their hours and their pay?<\/p>\n

\u201cSlim to none,\u201d said Grove.<\/p>\n

The bill was introduced in July and is in committee. There have been no hearings on it. None are scheduled.<\/p>\n

Critics note the current session has been one of the least productive in modern history.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n

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