New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) says he wants to reform the way congressional and legislative districts are drawn in his state, days after legislative leaders canceled a vote on a controversial plan that good government groups called a blatant power grab. In an interview with The Hill, Murphy applauded the decision to shelve the proposed overhaul, despite the fact that it likely would have cemented Democratic control of the state legislature and congressional delegation for years to come. The measure sparked outrage from Republicans, Democrats and groups that advocate for fair district lines.
“That was the right thing to do,” Murphy said of the decision to pull the bill. “I’ve never said that I thought the way we do it was perfect, so if someone’s got some proposals that open up democracy, make it more transparent, less political, count me in. I’m all for that. This did the opposite of that.”
“Anything that gets proposed the night before Thanksgiving smells, without even reading it,” Murphy said.
Full Article: New Jersey governor calls for redistricting reform | TheHill.