Pa. House votes to reduce legislature

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania's House of Representatives has given a lopsided vote of approval to bills that would allow voters to reduce the size of the legislature.

After more than two hours' debate Tuesday, the House voted by a 2-1 ratio to reduce the House membership from 203 to 153 and shrink the Senate from 50 to 38 seats.

The bills move to the Senate, which will not reconvene until 2014.

Even if both are approved by the Senate, the bills need another round of legislative approval in the next two-year session, plus voter approval, to take effect.