Dem opposition nixes GOP fix for redistricting glitch COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s Republican legislative leaders abandoned plans Wednesday for a fast-moving constitutional amendment that would have allowed deadlines for making state political maps to be extended due to pandemic-related delays in the 2020 census. Senate President Matt Huffman said his idea, which would have required a three-fifths majority of both legislative chambers by Wednesday, was unworkable because of a lack of support from Democrats. “I don’t think all hope is lost,” he told reporters, noting the time — albeit truncated — available to draw the map before a Sept. 15 deadline. “The real question is, if the data and the other things that need to be done can’t be done by Sept. 15, what happens?” Senate Democratic Leader Kenny Yuko and House Democratic Leader Emilia Sykes have said they preferred asking the Ohio Supreme Court to extend the deadlines — a strategy pursued in some other states — over amending the Ohio Constitution. Republican House Speaker Bob Cupp was on board with Huffman’s proposal, he said. At issue are constitutionally mandated deadlines for drawing a new, 10-year map for Ohio General Assembly districts under a new, more bipartisan system adopting by Ohio voters, as well as a new 10-year congressional map. The number of congressional districts in Ohio was reduced from 16 to to 15 with the release of new census data last week. Updated U.S. House maps will need to reflect that loss of a district.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s Republican legislative leaders abandoned plans Wednesday for a fast-moving constitutional amendment that would have allowed deadlines for making state political maps to be extended due to pandemic-related delays in the 2020 census.
Senate President Matt Huffman said his idea, which would have required a three-fifths majority of both legislative chambers by Wednesday, was unworkable because of a lack of support from Democrats.
“I don’t think all hope is lost,” he told reporters, noting the time — albeit truncated — available to draw the map before a Sept. 15 deadline.
“The real question is, if the data and the other things that need to be done can’t be done by Sept. 15, what happens?”
Senate Democratic Leader Kenny Yuko and House Democratic Leader Emilia Sykes have said they preferred asking the Ohio Supreme Court to extend the deadlines — a strategy pursued in some other states — over amending the Ohio Constitution. Republican House Speaker Bob Cupp was on board with Huffman’s proposal, he said.
At issue are constitutionally mandated deadlines for drawing a new, 10-year map for Ohio General Assembly districts under a new, more bipartisan system adopting by Ohio voters, as well as a new 10-year congressional map.
The number of congressional districts in Ohio was reduced from 16 to to 15 with the release of new census data last week. Updated U.S. House maps will need to reflect that loss of a district.
Ohio News
Fire in truck carrying lithium ion batteries leads to 3-hour evacuation in Columbus, Ohio
Retrial scheduled in former Ohio deputy’s murder case
Ohio state lawmaker’s hostile behavior justified legislative punishments, report concludes
Ohio authorities close case of woman’s 1964 death
TROY, Ohio (AP) — Authorities in Ohio said they have closed the case on a six-decade-old homicide of a woman ...
ACLU, Planned Parenthood challenge Ohio abortion restrictions after voter referendum
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood filed a legal challenge on Friday ...
