DUMBING IT DOWN

State Rep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield) has introduced a legislative proposal to reduce the number of members of the state House of Representatives from 110 to 76, or about one-third. “We currently have three House members for every three state Senate seats,” McCready said, noting there are 38 state Senate members. Each state Senate district represents about 280,000 people, while currently, each state House district represents approximately 85,000 to 90,000 people. “If we went down to two House members for every one Senate seat, rather than our current three House members for every one Senate seat, each House district would represent about 140,000 people, and would save in salary and benefits for members and staff about $7.5 million annually,” McCready said. Add leasing out the extra vacant office space in Lansing, he said, and there would be upwards of $9 million in savings, according to the House fiscal agency. “You’d probably get a better balance of people. We’d have to work harder, and see a better legislature,” he said. While the bill is still in committee, if heard, which McCready admits is doubtful, and approved, it could end up as a constitutional amendment proposal on the 2018 ballot.