Don’t hold your breath on reform

COLUMBUS

Are state lawmakers really poised to pass a bipartisan proposal to change the way Ohio resets its legislative district lines, allowing a greater voice for the minority political party of the moment in the process?

The cynic in me is skeptical.

We’ve been down this road before, just two years ago, when the Ohio Senate passed a different bipartisan redistricting proposal in the waning days of the last General Assembly, with no realistic chance it would make it through the other chamber before adjournment.

Again, we’re in the waning days of a general assembly, and suddenly lawmakers are talking serious about redistricting reform.

This time around, the Ohio House and Senate are working on the issue, so perhaps there’s a glimmer of hope for action within the coming days, before somebody shouts sine die.

To recap the issue: Ohio’s current system of redrawing legislative district lines every 10 years places power over the process in the hands of whichever political party controls state government.

The last time around, Republicans controlled most of the seats at the table, and Democrats say that led to districts drawn to make it easier to elect GOP candidates.

A variety of reform packages have been offered in recent years to give the minority party more of a voice in the process, but those packages have not progressed to the ballot.

Last week, the House moved its latest attempt at revamping the system, HJR 12. Sponsoring Rep. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said the proposed constitutional amendment would provide clearer criteria to consider when redrawing district lines and require at least two minority party member votes for final maps.

‘Impasse map’

In cases where members can’t reach an agreement, the redistricting commission would adopt an “impasse map” that would remain in effect for four years, at which time the panel would reconvene to restart the process.

HJR 12 moved on a vote of 80-4 and heads to the Senate for further consideration. Republicans and Democrats in the House are praising the plan, though some of the latter are voicing reservations.

“This legislation strikes a balance between the majority and minority parties and encourages the two to work together,” Huffman said in a released statement. “It also creates less litigation and less reason to argue over the procedures for drawing a map that is fair and competitive.”

Rep. Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton, who will become minority leader of the House next session, added in a released statement, “Though I have concerns this plan will have opportunities to misuse the process for partisan, political gain, I believe it is better than our current system.”

The Senate has its own reform package, but members postponed a vote on it on Thursday.

The Republican head of the chamber said his members are working toward resolution on redistricting reform.

If lawmakers can agree on a reform package, the constitutional changes would be placed before voters, likely in May.

If they can’t agree, we’ll be right back where we were two years ago, with a lot of talk of changing the system but no action.

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com