HARRISBURG -- Some General Assembly observers compare Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, to Don Quixote, the fictional character who tilted at windmills in an unsuccessful effort to knock them down.

Mr. Mustio is trying to do something just as difficult -- reduce the size of the 203-member state House and the 50-member Senate.

He will speak at a House State Government Committee meeting today in favor of his bill to reduce the House to 161 members and the Senate to 40 members, thus saving the state some money.

But top House Democrats, such as Majority Leader Bill DeWeese of Waynesburg, oppose any reduction, claiming it will give each legislator more constituents to look after and hinder their ability to help people.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.