Let's get on with the re-districting court battle

Heath Haussamen

NMPolitics - Redistricting was destined to end up in court, so maybe the Legislature should adjourn sine die today and stop spending taxpayer money to try to complete this futile exercise. In these uber-partisan times, was there ever much doubt that most or all pieces of the redistricting task currently before the New Mexico Legislature would end up being decided in court? Those who hoped for compromise between Democrats and Republicans have seen their hopes dashed in the last couple of days as negotiations have failed (some would say they didn’t really exist to begin with) and Democratic bills have passed on largely party-line votes. Both sides are accusing the other of partisan gerrymandering.

Both say their plans protect redistricting values such as one person, one vote. “It was painfully obvious today that Susana Martinez and her cronies in the Republican caucus aren’t interested in protecting every New Mexican’s vote or respecting minority voting rights,” Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales said Wednesday. “They are playing partisan politics and creating as many safe Republican seats as possible. Our maps were drawn with sound constitutional principles and the best interests of New Mexico at heart,” Gonzales said.

On the other hand, House Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, said on the floor Wednesday evening that the Democrats’ bill for redistricting the House amounted to gerrymandering. His primary problem was that, of the areas that lost the most people in the last decade, only a Republican-majority area lost a House seat. Taylor complained that a legal battle would cost millions. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Let's get on with the re-districting court battle