Maine plan to overhaul legislature presented to committee
April 4, 2011
AUGUSTA, Maine: Maine Rep. Linda Valentino (D) has proposed a state constitutional amendment that, if passed, would eliminate Maine's current House and Senate legislative structure. Maine would join Nebraska as the second state to possess a unicameral legislature.
On Monday, Valentino told the State and Local Government Committee that her proposed constitutional amendment (LD 804) would save taxpayers $11 million a year, and would result in fewer errors as bills pass through the legislature.[1] Like Nebraska, members of the unicameral legislature would be called senators.
The bill also includes a reduction in the size and length of the legislature. Legislative sessions would be shortened by two months in the first year of a two-year session, and by a month in the second year. In addition, 37 members would be trimmed from the current 188 member legislature (35 senators, 153 representatives), to meet the new requirement of 151 senators.[2]
In order for the amendment to take effect, it would need to be approved my two-thirds of lawmakers, and by a simple majority of Maine voters. A reapportionment plan would be required by the Legislature, convening in 2013.[1] Through 2006, the Maine Constitution has been amended 171 times.
The bill currently sits in committee.
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