Sounds good in theory, but remember how Congressional seats are drawn-up. That is where election rigging really takes place.
Look for a fierce re-districting battle after the 2010 census.
True. It always mystified me that politicians have successfully managed to keep the idea of a fairer system off the agenda there, ie a simple rule along the lines that congressional constituencies must resemble a circle or square to the maximum degree poswible and then have an algorhythm (Sic) to enforce it.
If it could be done on a federal basis, at least you wouldn't get some of these weird constituencies that make no secret of having been designed by someone channeling the greaty Gerrymander himself!
Unfortunately, some of the states losing 1 or 2 seats have maps drawn by Republicans last time and it will be almost impossible to squeeze more Democrat casualties out. I'm thinking of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, which have a lot of RAT-heavy districts and Republican-leaning districts since '02. It will be tough to eliminate the former without turning the latter blue. Also, Iowa has 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat, and the Democrat represents Des Moines, so odds are that a Republican will lose his seat unless it's won by a Democrat as an open seat before 2012. Illinois will be terrible for Republicans no matter what because the Democrats will likely control redistricting.
The good news: Massachusetts will lose a Democrat seat. Minnesota's Democrats represent the slow-growth areas so they'll probably cut loose either Peterson or Oberstar. Missouri's maps were drawn by Democrats so they will eliminate one of the two St. Louis seats--probably the one held by baby Carnahan. New York will probably lose on upstate Republican, one downstate/Island Democrat. If we're lucky, Hinchey will lose his seat upstate. I'm counting on Republicans holding on to the State Senate long enough to have a seat at the table.
Republicans will be drawing the maps in Utah, Georgia, Texas, and Florida. We may not pick up all three seats in the latter two states, but we're guaranteed 2 out of 3. Arizona's growth is suburban; count that seat for us. Ditto Nevada.
California's new seat will have to go somewhere in the Inland Empire or the Central Valley. The 'RATs would have to gerrymander the heck out of the map to get that seat for themselves.