Panel Proposed to Focus On Cost-Cutting

A pair of Republican lawmakers are calling for a bipartisan cost-cutting commission to look at ways to trim state spending in Pennsylvania.
Senator David Argall of Schuylkill County says the proposal would lead to the appointment of a panel from the public and private sectors to go through the budget line-by-line, agency-by-agency. He says it's a way to better control costs and avoid future tax increases...

"The goal right now is to get it up and running and if it indeed provides the kind of cost savings that we believe are available, if it proves itself again, I wouldn't be surprised that it would be sticking around for quite a while."

Argall says by ensuring the majority of the commission will be from the private sector, a completely different perspective may be brought to the process and more unnecessary spending will be eliminated.
Republican Representative Julie Harhart of Northampton County plans to introduce a similar measure in the House.