7-17-19 wi democrats promote new redistricting plan

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday worked to generate momentum for a bill calling for civil servants to draw legislative district boundaries, insisting it’s the right time to pass the measure after the U.S. Supreme Court killed a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s Republican-drawn boundaries.  The measure faces major obstacles given that the GOP controls both the state Senate and Assembly.  The Legislature currently draws district boundaries after every U.S. census to reflect population changes and the governor approves them. Then-Gov. Scott Walker signed off on lines Republicans drew in 2011 to consolidate their supporters and spread out Democratic voters. The move reduced the number of competitive districts to a handful, helping Republicans maintain control of both the Assembly and Senate for the last eight years.  Democratic voters filed a federal lawsuit in 2015 alleging the boundaries were unconstitutional. The lawsuit died in June after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that gerrymandering claims don’t belong in federal court.  Sen. Dave Hansen and Rep. Robyn Vining introduced a bill a week before the ruling that would require the nonpartisan Legislature Reference Bureau to draw the boundaries with oversight from a five-person commission. Legislative leaders would appoint four commission members; those members would choose a fifth person to serve as chair.   Three Assembly Republicans — Todd Novak, Joel Kitchens and Travis Tranel, all of whom represent districts that are still competitive __ have signed on as co-sponsors.   Hansen and Vining held a news conference Tuesday to tout the bill and thank the three Republicans for signing on. They urged supporters to contact Republican lawmakers and demand a hearing. They said the Supreme Court ruling has helped highlight how political power hinges on redistricting.   Regardless of the three Republicans’ support, the measure faces major obstacles in the GOP-dominated Legislature.