A leading Ohio House Republican has proposed a major overhaul of how the state draws its congressional and legislative districts, though its chances of passage are still unclear.
Twin resolutions introduced Thursday by House Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Huffman of Lima would give minority party leaders more of a say in the state’s redistricting process and provide incentives for both parties to work together.
If the General Assembly passes Huffman’s proposals by a three-fifths vote this year, they would then have to be approved in a statewide referendum in 2015.
Currently, Ohio’s congressional districts are drawn up and approved by the General Assembly. Legislative districts are created by a five-member Apportionment Board of statewide leaders and lawmakers, only one of which has to be a member of the minority party.
Critics of Ohio’s current system say it allows the ruling party too much power to gerrymander congressional and legislative districts to their benefit.
Under Ohio’s current boundaries, passed by Republicans in 2012, GOP candidates won 12 out of 16 congressional seats during last week’s general election, captured a record 65 of 99 Ohio House seats, and kept a solid 23-10 majority in the state senate.
House and Senate Republican leaders have each said they want to pass a redistricting plan before the legislative session ends next month. However, it’s unclear how receptive lawmakers will be to Huffman’s proposals, House Joint Resolutions 11 and 12.
Huffman’s resolutions would establish a six-member legislative committee to create congressional district boundaries every 10 years starting in 2021, the year after the next U.S. Census. The Ohio House and Senate would each appoint two members of the majority party and one from the minority party.
Legislative districts would be redrawn by a seven-member redistricting committee, consisting of the governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and one member each chosen by legislative leaders from the majority and minority parties.
Neither committee would be able to pass a redistricting plan without the support of at least one minority-party member.
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