Can anyone explain the implications of this bill?

[janet118]

And its chances of actually passing?

Ballot Access News

Maine Bill to Shrink Number of State Legislators
Maine Representative Jon Hinck (D-Portland) has introduced LD 153, to shrink the size of each house of the state legislature. The Senate now has 35 members and the proposal would change that to 23, which would give Maine the third-smallest State Senate in the nation (Nevada only has 21 State Senators, and Alaska has only 20). The proposal would lower the number of representatives from 151 to 101.

Maine currently has both an independent State Senator, and an independent Representative. Also, in 2002 and 2004, the Green Party elected a state legislator in Maine. A smaller state legislature would probably make it more difficult for non-major party legislators to be elected. The proposal must receive a two-thirds vote in each house of the legislature to pass. If it did pass the legislature, it would then appear as a proposed Constitutional change on the November 2012 ballot. Bills to shrink the legislature were introduced in 2009, but failed to pass.

Bill proposing constitutional amendment to reduce size of legislature

[Old and In the Way]

1. Beats me...sounds like something a Republican would propose.

I see no benefit for representation when you create a smaller legislative body. There's some cost savings obviously, but no advantage for the constituent when his influence is diluted.

[MaineDem]

2. Fine for Portland reps

But this does no good for rural Maine. Some of the districts in the Second District are enormous and takes forever for a Rep to travel the district. This makes no sense for anyone other than a city Legislator.

[ManiacJoe]

3. Is there any background available on this?

On the surface it appears to be a solution in search of a problem.