[Late word: Governor Schwarzenegger now appears poised to release details of his own proposal tomorrow morning. –JM]

Every political reporter, as much as we were working on other stories today, wanted to know whether there is new life to the much ballyhooed idea of linking reform of political redistricting to reform of the state’s term limits law.

For those of you unaware of the chatter: there were several high-profile discussions last year to modify term limits, by allowing 12 years of service in one legislative house, rather than a combined 14 in two houses. And to make that seemingly bitter pill go down easier with voters, the proposal was to link it with a plan to strip the Legislature of its power to draw political maps.

Well, the talks fizzled… so, too, did a proposal dealing only with redistricting. But the talk has begun anew in Sacramento, and the three legislative leaders who held news conferences today were each asked about the idea. Their reponses, it seemed, were maybe… maybe… and nope.

Click below to hear who said what on the subject:

* Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland)

* Assembly GOP Leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis), who introduced his own redistricting plan, ACA 4, today.

* Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-LA)