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Committee defeats proposal to shrink Mo. House

The Missouri House of Representatives chambers during Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State Address on Jan. 19, 2011.
(UPI/Bill Greenblatt)
The Missouri House of Representatives chambers during Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State Address on Jan. 19, 2011.

A Missouri House committee has rejected a proposal to downsize its own chamber.

The proposed constitutional amendment would have reduced the state House from 163 members to 103 members starting in 2015. A House committee voted Thursday to reject the plan.

Critics have expressed concerns that the smaller number of lawmakers would mean the public would not be as effectively represented.

Supporters say that reducing the number of lawmakers would help state government save money.

Earlier this week, state senators gave first-round approval to a similar measure. The Senate proposal would have eliminated 60 House members after the 2020 census.