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Ohio lawmakers OK district lines
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
A little more than a week after unveiling new congressional maps to the public, state lawmakers have given their final approval to a GOP-drawn redistricting plan that opponents say could secure Republican control of most of Ohio’s seats for the next decade.
The legislation passed the Ohio Senate by a vote of 24-7, then, later in the day, received concurrence from the House, 60-35, sending the final bill to Gov. John Kasich for his expected signature.
Sen. Keith Faber, a Republican from Celina, said the new lines were fully constitutional, fully vetted and drawn after considering comments from the public.
But, he said, the resulting districts aren’t perfect.
“Some people are going to be happy, and some people are not,” Faber said. “When you go from 18 congressmen to 16 congressmen, I guarantee there are 18 congresspersons who are going to be upset with the lines.”
Rep. Dennis Murray, a Democrat from Sandusky who joined most other members of the minority party in opposing, remained critical of the plan.
“What we are doing is wrong,” he said prior to the vote in the House. “We are driving this country apart. We are ripping it apart.”
The votes were mostly along party lines, though a few Democratic members of the legislative black caucus joined Republicans in supporting the bill, which could result in two seats being held by minority lawmakers.
Congressional district lines are redrawn every decade to account for population changes noted in the decennial U.S. Census. State lawmakers control the process, with the Ohio House and Senate required to pass legislation setting new boundary lines.
The new plan includes 16 districts, down from 18 due to slow population growth in the state. A dozen appear to favor Republicans, while four others, including a new one covering much of the city of Columbus, would favor Democrats.
Six incumbent lawmakers will face challenges in next year’s election. One of the new districts covers areas currently represented by two Republicans, one covers areas represented by two Democrats and one is represented by a Republican and a Democrat.
Republican supporters say the new maps will pass constitutional muster and were drawn within the confines of the law and court precedent.
Democratic opponents, however, contend the maps represent partisan gerrymandering at its worst and were drawn to ensure Republican victories over the next 10 years.