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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > September > 22 > Entry
Senate expected to OK Husted redistricting plan
The Ohio Senate on Wednesday, Sept. 23, is expected to approve giving voters a chance to change the way the state draws legislative and congressional districts after each census.
Senate Joint Resolution 5 is “just one step in trying to create a more bipartisan atmosphere so that we can minimize the focus on partisan politics and maximize the focus on the problems and challenges that affect people in their daily lives,” Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, sponsor of the resolution, said on Tuesday.
The State and Local Government and Veterans’ Affairs Committee approved the bill 6-3 Tuesday, along partisan lines with Republicans voting “yes” and Democrats “no.”
The goal is to put it on the May 2010 primary ballot, said Husted, who is running for secretary of state in 2010.
The plan calls for establishment of a seven-member commission to oversee creation of the districts. Members would include: the governor, secretary of state, auditor, House Speaker, Senate President and the minority leaders of the House and Senate.
A five-vote super majority would be required for adoption of a redistricting plan. Also, two of the votes would have to come commission members not in the majority party.
The commission would replace the five-member Apportionment Board for drawing legislative districts and the legislature for drawing U.S. House districts.
The Apportionment Board is made up of the governor, auditor, secretary of state and a legislator from each party. Right now, Democrats would control the board, 3-2. However, one Democratic member, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, not seeking re-election.
Approval of the resolution requires support from 20 senators. Republicans control the Senate, 21-12. If the Senate approves, the measure would go the House, controlled by Democrats.
Republicans control the Senate 21-12. Approval of a resolution requires support from 20 members.
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By Ed M
September 23, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this
It’s surprising to me that legislation to more fairly draw voting boundaries isn’t always voted in unanimously. You can always tell who the bad guys are in a gerrymandering case. It’s the ones who want to keep the corrupt system. In this case it’s the Democrats.