|
Kansas legislative leaders from both parties have hatched a redistricting plan designed to take politics out of the process.
If they’re successful in making the change, it would be a marked departure from how state lawmakers have always redrawn congressional and legislative districts.
The state is set to redraw its political map in 2012, using next year’s census data.
Previously, redistricting has been an often divisive political decision made by lawmakers.
Under the proposal, which must be passed by the Legislature, the state’s Legislative Research office would use census data and other criteria to redraw the districts. The Legislature would then vote on their recommendation.
It’s similar to how Iowa does it, and leaders from both parties said it would help take politics out of the process. Senate President Steve Morris, Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, and House Minority Leader Paul Davis all helped create the proposal.
“When legislators choose their own constituents, it leads to intense partisan wrangling, determined power struggles and personal animosity that can sour the mood of an entire legislative session,” said Schmidt, an Independence Republican, in a statement accompanying the proposal. “Rather than allowing these distractions to dominate another legislative session, we believe Kansans would be better served if a bipartisan commission and nonpartisan staff drew our districts and we spent our time focused on public policy issues that affect the lives of all Kansans.”
“It is good to work on this in a bipartisan fashion,” said Morris, a Hugoton Republican. “The people are better served when redistricting is not a partisan brawl.”
Notably absent from the list of supporters, however, is House Speaker Mike O’Neal and House Majority Leader Ray Merrick.
The measure will be introduced as legislation in the Senate.
|
