Fire the Michigan Senate?

A ballot question committee from Hastings called Unicameral Michigan has a new website out calling for us to fire the senate - for good.

ITS TIME TO ABOLISH THE MICHIGAN SENATE

Goal: To create a unicameral -- single-chamber--legislature for the State of Michigan.

How: By eliminating the 38-member state senate through a statewide vote.

When: A total of 317,000 valid signatures must be collected by petition during a 180-day period for the proposal to appear on the November, 2006 ballot. The petition drive is expected to begin February 1, 2006. The petition deadline is July 4, 2006.

History: Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature. The single-chamber body went into session in 1937, three years after being approved by Nebraska voters.

I'm undecided on this. I see some positives and some negatives to this.

Positives:
1. Less conference committees.
2. Reduces government.
3. Prevents duplication as the state senate and house districts are both population based.
4. Makes it easier to repeal bad laws.

Negatives -
1. Sometimes gridlock is good, and I think there are too many laws out there. A bicamerial state legislature reduces the number of laws passed, including the bad ones.
2. Eliminating the senate makes it easier for tax/fee increases to pass.
3. Eliminates an extra check and balance on the government.