Our state has financial problems. Maybe our forthcoming Legislature should set an example by reducing state expenditures. One way would be for them to propose and vote for a constitutional amendment that would create a one-houe legislature like Nebraska.
Our state Senate, unlike the federal Senate, is based on districts, each having an equal population. This makes the Senate no different from the state House of Representatives, except for their size. A two-house legislature is an expensive governmental redundancy that we no longer need.
A one-house legislature would be more efficient. It would save money by eliminating a number of its members and their staffs, by the elimination of duplicate hearings and the elimination of one dining room. It would also make it easier to identify the members who are causing problems, and those who are solving problems. A 100-member legislature should be adequate to meet our state needs. We currently have 98 members of the House of Representatives and 49 senators.
As it takes a two-thirds vote of both houses to pass a constitutional amendment and send it on for voter approval, it is doubtful that a sitting legislature would even consider such an amendment, no matter how much money it would save the taxpayers. Maybe it should be a campaign issue for our upcoming election.
Stanwood
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