Newspaper: Reduce size of PA Legislature

The Pottstown Mercury is the latest newspaper to address the ill-advised pay raise members of the Pennsylvania Legislature gave themselves on Dec. 1.

But the newspaper goes further and says giving back the pay raise is not enough.

A permanent reduction in the number of lawmakers and corresponding savings to taxpayers is in order, according to an editorial in the newspaper.

"The excess and high cost of the Pennsylvania Legislature puts a severe strain on state finances and thus, taxpayers," the newspaper says. "Everyone else is being forced to do more with less. It's time that happens in Harrisburg, too."

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.