Georgia Democrats float anti-gerrymander bill
A pair of Democrats who work under the Gold Dome in Atlanta are trying some long shot legislation: they’re asking Republicans to give up an obscure, but important power.
The power is that the Republican-controlled state Legislature draws the districts for Georiga’s 12 U.S. Representatives and for the 236 members of the state House and Senate.
“We believe that …voters should elect their representatives. What has happened is representatives get together around a map to choose their voters,” said state Rep. Pat Gardner, D-Atlanta, explaining two pieces of legislation she’s just filed.
One would put map-making in the hands of an independent, bipartisan commission. The other specifies that maps can’t be drawn to favor or disfavor a party or incumbent.
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