Philadelphia Daily News John Baer column.(Column)

Byline: John Baer

Aug. 10--I GUESS REFORM depends on where one's from and whom one represents.

Cutting the size of the Legislature got batted around at a 2 1/2-hour House State Government Committee hearing yesterday. Couple of things struck me. Philly folks are cool to the idea; so are some rural folks. Partisan stereotypes prevail: the Republican committee chairman likes the issue; the committee's ranking Democrat not so much. After testimony from academics, lawmakers and rural interests, committee chairman Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, said he's "stronger" in favor of a reduction bill than he was before the hearing. But the minority chair, Rep. Babette …