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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2011 > September > 21 > Entry
UPDATE - Gov. Kasich to sign redistricting bill - House gives final approval to GOP U.S. House map - Senate OKs GOP-drawn U.S. House district map, 24-7 - Senate committee adds $2.75M appropriation, OKs map for U.S. House districts
The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a Republican-drawn U.S. House map for 16 new U.S. House districts and sent it to Republican Gov. John Kasich.
Kasich will sign the bill, Rob Nichols, the governor’s spokesman, said in an email.
The map as finally approved includes an appropriation for $2.75 million to help local boards of elections change for redistricting changes. The appropriation means the bill would go into effect immediately upon Kasich’s signature and also prevents a referendum on the legislation.
Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, who voted against the map, said he believes the national NAACP and Ohio NAACP chapters, including the one in Dayton, will join forces to challenge the map in federal court.
The House vote came after the Senate voted for the map, 24-7.
Two black Democrats - Sens. Shirley Smith of Cleveland and Charleta Tavares of Columbus - joined 22 Republicans in voting “yes.” All the “no”votes came from Democrats.
Tavares said the map created a majority minority district in the Akron-Cleveland area and a minority influence district in the Columbus area in which a black candidate would have a chance to win.
The Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee earlier approved the Republican-drawn map for 16 new U.S. House districts after adding a $2.75 million appropriation to help county boards of elections with the redistricting process.
The appropriation means the bill would go into effect immediately upon Gov. John Kasich’s signature and could not be subject to a referendum, which Democrats have threatened.
The full Senate later Wednesday was expected to give its OK. It’s possible the House still on Wednesday could approve the amended bill and send it to Kasich.
The 6-3 committee vote was along party lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats against.
The committee took no action on legislation changing the 2012 spring primary from March to May.
Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, said there will be only one primary in March.
The new map creates 12 Republican leaning districts and four favoring Democrats. Just two would be competitive, according to an analysis by the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting.
The map would put U.S. Reps. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, and Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, in the same district.
Ohio’s U.S. House delegation will shrink from 18 to 16 because of slow population growth.
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By James Mark
September 26, 2011 7:26 AM | Link to this
As far as I can determine, no will and/or voting power of Ohioans has been decreased. I am more concerned about the Republican candidates for President. Those who are strong in character need to step forward and be heard! Obama’s agenda must be defeated. The jobs bill is nothing more than getting more of our money in the name of jobs bill to waste as he wishes. We need taxes that relate to employers reduced and taken away based on their willingness to create or return jobs to America. Obama’s community organizing days in Chicago with the corrupt Acorn leaves me with quite a concern. He is busy campaigning at fund raisers for his next run. I stand opposed to Obama!
By @Proud Working Man
September 23, 2011 2:10 PM | Link to this
Your comments may have merit, but using slurs in your posts does nothing to advance your position. Your Tea Party name-calling is no better than someone who demonizes all union members. Peace.
By Proud Working Man
September 22, 2011 6:42 AM | Link to this
These Tea Baggers are dangerous, but they certainly impress me with their ability to manipulate the media with political marketing. This mindset has destroyed collective bargaining in this country, and still has many average joes convinced that organized labor is bringing the country down. And this mindset has achieved the lowest taxes assessed to the richest segment of our population in a century in the name of creating jobs…despite decades of emperical evidence that this income redistribution has coincided with job losses to the average joe. Quite ironically, they preach to the average joe that they want to return America to the glory years of the 60s or 90s. Of course, that’s when we actually had vibrant, organized labor and the richest among us were taxed just a tad more.
By fastwillys
September 21, 2011 6:26 PM | Link to this
See how they cheat? Just throw in a $275 mil give away and take away the will and voting power of Ohioans.