Down sizing government body?

WTNH TV

Updated: Dec 22, 2011 7:44 PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — One proposal could make the governing body much smaller.

Are you one of those people that thinks state government is too big?  Well believe it or not, at least one state lawmaker agrees with you.
    
The Connecticut House of Representatives consists of 151 state representatives, each representing a district of about 22,500 people.
    
The State Senate consists of 36 members, each representing a district of about 94,500.  Each Senate district has about four state representatives representing the same citizens.
    
State Senator Gary LeBeau has been in the legislature for 20 years, and said it's time for the legislature to take a good look at itself.

"We should have an examination of how many of us there are, how much we're paid, how much staff we have, the adequacy of that and whether we should be one house or two houses," said LeBeau.

One of LeBeau's ideas is to collapse the Senate, and the House into one legislative body of about 60 members, with an eye toward saving some of the approximately $65 million a year it costs to run the current set up, and doing it over the next ten years.

"People should look at this a little bit more objectively as opposed to; 'I might lose my seat.'  It should be looked at and say; 'what's best for the State of Connecticut?" said LeBeau.
      
If Connecticut were to do this we would not be the first, the State of Nebraska has just one legislative body, and it seems to work for them.

So, what do you think of this idea?  Is the legislature too big?  Could we get more done, faster, if it were smaller?

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