Posted by
Jay Kern on Thursday, January 31, 2008 10:21:48 PM
As most people are aware, the state legislature here in PA operates the same way as the federal government. The legislature makes and passes bills, and the governor signs them into law. However, the role of state legislatures goes well beyond that scope.
One of the most important aspects of individual legislators is their ability to interact with local municipalities. While many broad policies originate at the state level, in the end it is the county and local governments that end up dealing with most issues. Roads, water/sewer, garbage removal, even electric production for some; all of these are regulated in some sense by the state, but local government is the first entity put to the grind stone when residents are dissatisfied.
It is also important for legislators to be aware of what their individual constituents are interested in having done. However, local issues are best taken care of by local officials with assistance from the state. Not by a state law that ignores that level of government that is best suited to deal with those issues.