Dems submit new redistricting plan

Democratic members of Idaho’s bipartisan citizen redistricting commission proposed a new legislative district plan today, L-46. The new plan divides seven counties, up from six in the Dems’ original plan. “This represents an effort to comply more closely with the statutory guidance that we have, and we believe that it has been improved in a number of ways,” said Democratic Commissioner George Moses. “It is not perfect. There are places that we have not met that. We heard from the sponsor yesterday that that was expected.”

Yesterday, former Idaho Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, who sponsored the 2009 legislation requiring legislative districts to be connected by highways unless five of six redistricting commissioners vote to waive the rule, addressed the commission yesterday. Republican commissioners have submitted seven legislative district plans that divide 11 counties, but more closely follow the roads rule.

Commission GOP Co-Chairman Evan Frasure said, “We do appreciate the new plan. It gives us a lot to consider.” The commission then took a break until 3 this afternoon, to allow the GOP commissioners to review the Democratic proposal and be prepared to respond. “We do appreciate the fact that we’ve got something to look at here,” Frasure said. You can see the new plan, L-46, online here .