Legislature to Take Up Redistricting Next Week   

Next Tuesday, July 19, both the State Senate and the State Assembly will debate SB 148, SB 149 and SB 150. These three bills encompass the state legislature's redistricting efforts to redraw Wisconsin legislative maps for the State Senate and State Assembly and for the Wisconsin Congressional delegation.   

Today, the Senate Committee responsible for redistricting passed the three bills on party line 3 to 2 partisan votes setting the stage for Tuesday's legislative debate. According to Wispolitics.com, the committee added a few amendments to the bills that alleviate some Democratic concerns relating to minority representation in Milwaukee.   

Under the original bill, Assembly Districts 8 and 9 (both Milwaukee seats) would each have had a Hispanic population of 57.2 percent. The amendment changes the mix to 60.5 percent Hispanic in AD 8, and 54 percent in AD 9. The amendment passed on a 3-2 vote, with the two Dems on the committee voting against it.  

The committee also passed changes to SB 150, which creates a panel to hear challenges to the apportionment of congressional or legislative districts. In an effort to offset Democrats' concerns about the loss of local control in the redistricting process, the committee passed by a unanimous vote an amendment that clarifies the bill to ensure it cannot be construed to force municipalities and counties to redraw maps to fit with state legislative lines (www.wispolitics.com).  

As discussed in Monday's Capitol Notes, the proposed maps make some significant changes to Wisconsin's current legislative boundaries by placing 22 lawmakers - 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats - in the same districts with other incumbents.  

See a statewide map of the legislative boundaries:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/11_2266_1_leg_maps_and_tables.pdf

To view the state legislative redistricting bill SB 148, click here.

Also, discussed in Monday's Capitol Notes, GOP legislative leaders released SB 149 - the federal redistricting bill. The bill alters significantly two of the state's eight congressional districts.  SB 150  swaps several areas of the 7th  Congressional District (northern and northwestern WI) and the 3rd Congressional District (western and westcentral Wisconsin).  

The 7th District, which is held by first-term GOP Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Ashland) would pick up fast-growing St. Croix County on the western edge of the state, while shedding all of Portage and most of Wood counties to the 3rd District, which is represented by eighth-term Democratic Representative Ron Kind (D-La Crosse).   

To view the congressional redistricting bill SB 149, click

here.

The legislature will also take action on SB 150. This bill sets the parameters for local government to create their local political boundaries.

To view  SB 150, click here.