Like waiters at a restaurant, the Maine Legislature is now taking orders from Maine residents who have ideas for reducing the size of state government. Whether the electronic “suggestion box” will make a difference come budget season is anyone’s guess. But, for now, it is a real chance for average Mainers to speak their mind and share their ideas for streamlining government.

To get you thinking, a few of our ideas are listed below. You might not agree with any of these, but drastic steps may be just what’s needed. You can submit yours at www.maine.gov/legis/ofpr/afaSuggestionBox.html.

1. Education: Do away with the laptop program. It was indulgent when Gov. King first proposed it, and it still is. Kids won’t be left behind. Heck, they know more about computers and the Internet than their teachers! Learning can be just as rewarding and comprehensive, and maybe more effective, when expensive technology is avoided and books and a hands-on approach are used instead.

2. Education: Do away with school superintendents and their staffs. Have the education commissioner’s office make sure each district is following state and federal mandates. Do away with local curriculum coordinators, as well. Have the entire state’s education system follow one curriculum, approved by the commissioner. Locally, give principals more authority. They should work directly with the commissioner’s office to make sure each school is operating according to guidelines set by the state.

3. Legislature: Increase the number of members in the House of Representatives to 500, spread evenly according to population. Don’t pay legislators, except for travel expenses. Halt all retirement pension plans as well. In lieu of salary, provide a food court manned each day of the session. For lodging, build dormitories to house legislators while in Augusta.

4. Legislature: Last session, more than 2,300 bills were proposed. Instead, limit the amount of bills each legislator can submit to one per lawmaker, per session. For legislators who represent cities of 20,000 or more residents, allow two bills per session.

5. Legislature: Rather than allowing the Legislature to spend six months a year conjuring up laws, limit the legislative session to two months, to be held in the summer without air conditioning. The first six weeks can be devoted to discussion of bills, the last two weeks to voting. Early ultra-conservative Texas Legislatures met for a limited time during the heat of summer to limit the influence of government. They were definitely onto something.

6. Transportation: Make Maine a “no tolls state.” Don’t nickel-and-dime motorists to death. Safe, high-speed roads, which are free to drive, spur economic activity. Tolls do nothing but choke the flow of tourists and commerce. Doing away with tolls will draw more tourists from points south, reduce impact on secondary roads and spur economic activity.

7. Health insurance: Stop offering state employees full health coverage. Reduce the benefits package and make employees pay half their monthly premiums, as the majority of private sector employees must. It is outrageous state employees are treated so well while the people paying their salaries have to scrape by. State work shouldn’t be elevated above or rewarded more than private sector work.

-John Balentine, contributing editor