This year, various Maine legislators have introduced at least five bills to decrease the number of members of the legislature. The legislature has been in recess but it re-convenes on April 25. Some of these legislators are holding a press conference on Monday to publicize their bills. LD 40 shrinks the House from 151 to 131 members, and was introduced in January. LD 804 provides for a unicameral legislature of 151 members and was introduced in March. LD 153 shrinks the House from 151 to 101 and the Senate from 35 to 23, and was introduced in January. LD 669 shrinks the House from 151 to 101 and the Senate from 35 to 17 and was introduced in February. Finally, LD 329 shrinks the Senate from 35 to 32, but it has already been killed in the Senate.
If any of these bills pass, the voters would then vote on whether to approve the change.
What size oligarchy – loved by tyrant State Guvs ???
What size MOB — as in the 435 U.S.A. House of Reps ???
P.R. and App.V.
I’m not sure I understand what the implications would be, but would love to read your take on all this.
I haven’t read the bills carefully, but I am guessing it would be slightly easier for candidates for the legislature to qualify for public funding if there were fewer legislative seats. I assume the bills don’t change the rules, so it would automatically be easier, if there are the same number of contributors needed, but now more people living in each legislative district.
On the other hand, bigger districts would make it harder for minor parties and independents to get elected. The districts are so low in population now, it is possible for an energetic candidate to ring doorbells in an entire district, and thus campaign intensely without spending a lot of money.
How about MORE States – regardless of the EVIL minority rule semi-permanent U.S.A. Senate gerrymander ???
i.e. MAX X voters in each legislative district.
Solve for X.
Might save Mother Earth – i.e. local voters would put MAJOR pressure on legislators regarding water supplies, sane land use, etc.
i.e. how about dividing CA into AT LEAST 10 States ??? — each one having a mere 5 plus times the voters in WY.
A good idea to cut the number of seats ain the state House and Senate. It will save lots of our tax money.
Is the cost of having State legislatures even ONE percent of the total cost of having State governments ???
Having fewer legislators makes the remainder even MORE powerMAD — see the NUTCASES in the CA Legislature — due to the LARGE number of voters per seat.