Fourth-district debate: Panel endorses three redistricting options, bars the proposal pitched by Democrats from the short list
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
(Tribune)
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.
