House Democrats launched filibusters of legislation Tuesday in protest of the map and the chamber passing a bill last week critics say will prevent removal of Confederate memorials. “I don’t care if the Pope got a bill today,” said Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham. “It’s dead. We want parity, equality and fair play.” The slowdown could affect other pending legislation, like the budgets and prison bills, and Republicans tried to strike encouraging notes in the committee hearings Wednesday. The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee held a hearing on that chamber’s map Tuesday afternoon but did not vote on the proposal. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, the chair of the committee, recommended to Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, who drew the maps, to get together with Senate Democrats before the expected vote Wednesday.
“I think we all benefit at the end of the day the more people support this,” he said. Marsh planned to meet with Dial and Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, Wednesday morning.
House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee Chair Randy Davis, R-Daphne, told legislators during the House meeting that he was still working on the maps, and planned to offer a substitute later this week that he hoped would address those concerns.
“We have to do this in a timely manner,” he said shortly before the committee approved the map on a 7-3, mostly party line vote. “That is the reason I want to stay on track and continue to negotiate. Negotiation is not over.”
Full Article: Redistricting plans move forward, but Democrats object.