Topeka ? The idea of consolidating Johnson and Wyandotte counties was floated Tuesday but appears to have sunk like a rock.

The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee heard Sen. Chris Steineger’s proposal to create a nine-member commission to study consolidating the two counties and their 20 municipalities into a single unified government.

“It doesn’t mandate consolidation. It simply sets up a study process,” Steineger, D-Kansas City, told the committee.

The bill would give voters a chance to accept or reject any proposal by the commission. But it’s unlikely voters will ever get the chance.

“We probably won’t see it again,” said Chairman Pete Brungardt, R-Salina.

One committee member, Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, called the proposal “dead on arrival.” He said Johnson County voters would outnumber those in Wyandotte County on any ballot issue.

“One group of people dominates another, which never leads to a good situation,” he said.