Most news accounts I’ve read suggest that the Envision Maine crew has rendered a service in reporting its suggestions for efficiency and general improvement in Maine’s governing bodies. Reducing the Legislature’s size, pruning state agencies and reconfiguring the counties are all worth public consideration and might lead to useful improvements.

I have no idea whether they considered it, but missing from their suggestions for the Legislature is one that would do it all — a unicameral Maine Legislature.

In 1934, led by George Norris and others, Nebraskans hammered by hard times and ill-served by an expensive, slogging legislature voted to adopt a single-house system, which commenced in 1937.

They’ve survived and have never hankered for a return. And for obvious reasons: It made no sense having two chambers doing the same work.

Before the change, legislators of both chambers had the same duties; were elected the same way at the same time; had the same terms and pay; the checks and balances provided by separate branches of government remained intact, as did popular devices such as the initiative and referendum; duplication of staff was eliminated as were party hierarchies and staff since state elections became non-partisan by law.

I urge fellow Mainers to study the possibilities, in particular, the Maine Senate — a vestige of an era when counties were viewed as mini-states in a federal relationship with the state government — could be eliminated without diminishing the democratic process.

Paul McGuire, Farmington