Fourth-district debate: Panel endorses three redistricting options, bars the proposal pitched by Democrats from the short list
By Glen Warchol
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:11/22/2006 01:12:45 AM MST
A legislative committee Tuesday advanced three proposals in carving a potential fourth congressional district into Utah before their meeting ended in a partisan dispute.
The redistricting plans will debut at a series of public hearings next week. The Legislature will approve one map on Dec. 1 to offer to Congress in hopes that Utah will finally get a fourth U.S. House seat.
The process crossed into controversy when Republicans barred a Democratic-drawn option from the public short list. The majority party's vote infuriated minority party committee members who say it puts the lie to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s promise redistricting would be nonpartisan and open.
"I'm frustrated. It's the same old thing," said Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, who walked out of the meeting immediately after Republicans rejected her party's plan as unworthy of public input. "They always say they want input from the Democrats. Why have Democrats on the committee if you are going to ignore what we have to say?"
Led by Biskupski, Democrats Rep. David Litvack and Sen. Gene Davis drew a map that would create a Democratic-leaning district in Salt Lake County and one district dominated by Republican-dominated rural Utah. The other maps, drawn by Republicans, offer an urban-rural population mix in every district.
Biskupski further complained that Republicans barred Democrats from participating in drawing the finalist maps. Instead, Democrats were banished to a separate computer-equipped "war room" to draw their map, she said. The only Democratic input came when Davis and committee Senate chairman Sen. Curt Bramble modified some Salt Lake County boundaries on one map.
"The governor said this was going to be a fair and nonpartisan process or he would use his veto," Biskupski said. ''He can't pretend this was nonpartisan.''
Later Tuesday, Bramble and committee House chairman Rep. Dave Clark, both Republicans, said they would try to get the Democrats' plan added to the list at the first public meeting.
Earlier in the day, however, Republicans roundly criticized the Democrats' plan. "It doesn't make sense. The way Salt Lake County is divided up, I think is terrible," said Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, whose state senate district would fall into two congressional districts.
Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, said representing a rural district stretching from the Four Corners in San Juan County to the Idaho-Nevada border in Box Elder County "would be a nightmare."
But Litvack argued that, if nothing else, the Democratic "Plan G," would allow the public to discuss the benefits in providing a congressional voice committed to rural Utahns. "This is the only map that is distinctly different from the others."
Lawmakers decided last week to pursue a fourth seat in the lame-duck session of Congress that begins Dec. 4. Utah's hopes are linked to a voting seat for the District of Columbia. The state's likely Republican seat would balance D.C.'s Democratic seat.
No party affiliation data was loaded in the computers and the committee banned discussing political issues at its meetings or with the staff - apparently to no avail.
"If you are going to take three plans on the road for public hearings that are the same and not include the option from the minority party, it's obviously a partisan process," Biskupski said.
Options for proposed 4th district
REP. JACKIE BISKUPSKI
Salt Lake City Democrat
The Redistricting Committee is holding a series of hearings to get public input on congressional redistricting options.
* MONDAY:
Provo Municipal Council Chambers, 351 West Center St., 9 a.m.
Price City Hall, 185 East Main St., 1 p.m.
Washington County Commission Chambers, 197 E. Tabernacle St., St. George, 5 p.m.
* TUESDAY:
Park City, Miners Hospital, 1354 Park Ave., 9 a.m.
Ogden City Council Chambers, 2549 Washington Blvd., 1 p.m.
Salt Lake City, West Legislative Building, Room 135, State Capitol, 5 p.m.
3 comments:
Can you imagine covering a geographically large district like that in Plan G? Let's not forget the varying concerns and issues that face the different parts of the state encompassed that massive district...
Steve, It'd be easier than representing Matheson's current district that is based in Salt Lake County but stretches to both Navajoland and Dixie. With an all rural district, a rep could divide time equally aross Utah. And the state is compact enough that a person could visit all the major towns several times a year.
Colorado's 3rd district is larger and more varied even than the proposed rural district. Texas 23 is much larger and just as diverse. Idaho has a district that is longer from end to end.
And that doesn't even being to explain Montana-AL which is about twice the size and the population of the proposed rural Utah district with even more wide-ranging economic and cultural diversity. Denny Rehberg likes the job enough that he keeps running for reelection.
The Utah Republicans just want to keep control of their powerbase and making sure that suburban Republicans can dominate rural Utah interests is near the top of their agenda.
"Repelicans" always talk about "bi-partisan", but in reality they just don't care. They are more concerned about increasing their power than doing what's right.
Post a Comment