AUGUSTA – A proposed constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the Maine House of Representatives was rejected Tuesday by the House.

A motion to kill the bill passed by a 79-60 tally. The bill would eventually have to be approved by a two-thirds legislative majority in order to be sent to voters.

It seeks a change in Maine’s Constitution to slash the size of the House of Representatives from 151 members to 105. It would also establish in the Constitution the size of the Senate at 35 members, as it is now. The change would take effect in 2009.

Proponents said the measure would save taxpayers a lot of money, but opponents asked lawmakers to reject it and consider an alternative bill that has yet to come up for a vote.