Senate passes bill cutting number of Representatives from 163 to 103

Intro:	Senators now send to the House a bill that would reduce the number of state Representatives after the next census.
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Wrap: The bill would cut the number of Representatives from 163 to 103.

Republican Clay Senator LuAnn Ridgeway says this reduction would harm the relationship between Representatives and their constituents.

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Description: "In this time of term limits, we need to keep our representatives as close to the people as possible. By diluting the number of representatives, and increasing the number of people they would represent, it is of necessity that it would be harder to stay in touch with the people."

Despite Ridgeway's criticism, the bill sponsor says the reduction of representatives would save the tax payers about five million dollars.

If the House passes the bill, it would go into effect after the next census when current representatives are already term limited out of office.

The idea of cutting the size of the House has been around for years, but typically stalls in the House.

From the Missouri State Capitol, I'm Meghann Mollerus.

Intro:	The Senate now sends to the House a bill that would cut 60 members from the House after the next census.
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OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: If the House were to pass the bill, the change would not go into effect until after current members are term-limited out of office.

Bill sponsor and St. Louis County Republican Senator Jim Lembke says Missouri currently has the fourth-largest House in the country.

He says cutting representatives is an efficient move for Missouri.

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Description: "As we look across departments in our restructuring efforts to save the taxpayers money and make government more efficient, it was my feelings, and the feelings of my colleagues in the Senate that downsizing the House would be part of that effort."

Opponents say the cut would cause representatives to be less in touch with the people, as they would represent about 20,000 more constituents per district.

The idea of cutting the size of the House has been around for years, but typically stalls in the House.

From the Missouri State Capitol, I'm Meghann Mollerus.

Intro:	The Senate now sends to the House a bill that would eliminate 60 state Representatives after the next census.
RunTime:	0:52
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The bill would cut the number of Representatives from 163 to 103.

According to bill sponsor and St. Louis County Republican Senator Jim Lembke, Missouri has the fourth-largest House in the country.

Lembke says downsizing will save money and provide a more efficient government.

Actuality:	LEMBKE2.WAV
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Description: "This is about having a manageable statehouse and across state government, making changes that would save taxpayers money. This would save taxpayers about five million dollars a year."

Opponents of the bill say cutting Representatives would cause leaders to be less in touch with their constituents.

If the Houses were to pass the bill, the decrease in House size would not take place until after current members are term-limited out of office.

The idea of cutting the size of the House has been around for years, but typically stalls in the House.

From the Missouri State Capitol, I'm Meghann Mollerus.