Redistrict without politics, GOP says
Associated Press
November 13, 2009
Indiana Senate Republicans want to make changes in the way legislative district maps are drawn to lessen political factors used in redistricting .
They plan to introduce a bill in the upcoming session that would require lawmakers who draw new maps in 2011 to use guidelines that would try to keep districts compact and avoid dividing communities, neighborhoods and precincts.
They also said Thursday they want to create a two-year study committee that could ultimately lead to a constitutional amendment establishing an independent commission to draw new House and Senate maps every 10 years.
Republicans have a large majority in the Senate, but Democrats control the House.
Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said he will help shepherd the package co-authored by Assistant President Pro Tem Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, and Majority Floor Leader Connie Lawson, R-Danville.
Long and Lawson were pushing the legislation Thursday - almost a full week before lawmakers gather to organize for the 2010 legislative session.
"Objective principles like compactness, contiguity, preservation of counties and other political subdivisions, respect for communities and compliance with the Voting Rights Act should be paramount," Lawson said. "In the past, there has been little guidance in either the Indiana law or the Indiana Constitution regarding redistricting . Our bill, which includes these new guiding principles, can be the first legislative step toward Indiana's historic redistricting reforms."
Landske's legislation will require "a transparent two-year bipartisan look" into what is working among the 49 other states' redistricting efforts. A special study committee consisting of two lawmakers and two citizens appointed by each caucus and possibly chaired by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard would be asked to conduct both daytime and evening hearings across the state.
Currently, the state Constitution specifically tasks the General Assembly with drawing state and federal districts. Changing this legislative constitutional duty to an independent redistricting commission is possible but only if a constitutional amendment is passed by two separately elected sessions of the legislature and then approved by Indiana voters.
Edition: Final
Section: Metro
Page: 1C
Dateline: INDIANAPOLIS
Record Number: 0911120802
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