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Redistricting Reform Advances To Senate

State of Indiana
/
http://www.in.gov/

House lawmakers Tuesday unanimously approved legislation establishing a study committee to examine redistricting reform.

Legislation authored by Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and House Minority Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, creates a study committee that will spend two years reviewing redistricting procedures in other states and recommend a system for Indiana.

Pelath says though the end of the decade seems far off, it’s important to start the reform process now.

“I think this is a fairly easy ‘Yes’ vote in favor of the general principle that we ought to have, to the maximum extent possible, constituents picking their politicians and not politicians picking their constituents,” Pelath says.

Legislation skipping a study and establishing an independent redistricting commission previously has passed the House before. Bosma says he’d prefer to just enact reform.

“It’s very clear that that’s not going to pass through the Senate without a deep dive like this. This is the right next step,” Bosma says.

The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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