Senate approves shrinking House
The Maine Senate yesterday overwhelmingly approved a bill to shrink the Maine House of Representatives.
The bill, which would reduce the House from 151 members to 131 starting in 2014, is not in the clear yet. While the Senate voted 30-5 for approval, easily gaining the necessary two-thirds majority to pass, the House last week approved it by a vote of 86-58, not enough to gain the supermajority, according to the Morning Sentinel. The bill requires a constitutional amendment, so it would be sent to voters if lawmakers approve it.
Proponents of the bill say it will reduce the Legislature's budget by an estimated $880,000, the paper reported. Opponents claim it would overburden the remaining House members and unbalance the power between the Senate and House.
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