A race for redistricting reform appears to be on for Senate and House Republicans, leaving one to question whether legislators will be able to come together and make good on a promise to pass reform by year’s end. Redistricting discussion ramped up this past week as testimony began on a pair of joint resolutions by Rep. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, that would change the district mapmaking process for state and federal legislators. As voter advocates blasted Huffman’s plan, saying it would be the worst redistricting process in the country, the Senate began moving on a redistricting plan that’s effectively been on hold since it was voted out of committee in June 2013.
Legislators made a promise two years ago to address the redistricting process so district lines can’t be manipulated to benefit the majority party, Secretary of State Jon Husted said. But can Republicans agree on which plan is best, and can either gain some minority support?
“If the legislature were really inclined to cull the best of proposals they’ve seen, and there’s been several over the past 10 years, it would be possible to make serious progress,” said Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and national expert on constitutional law and the law of democracy.
Husted, who began pushing for redistricting reform while in the Senate, is hopeful legislators will fulfill their promise.
Full Article: Republicans go head-to-head on redistricting reform.