Lawmakers are deadlocked on a proposed constitutional amendment to address gerrymandering.
Governor Ralph Northam is entering the debate over gerrymandering, letting lawmakers know that he’ll propose a new solution by Monday. Lawmakers find themselves deadlocked about whether or not to pass a constitutional amendment creating a nonpartisan redistricting commission. Democrats supported the amendment last year, but now things have changed.
Democratic Delegate Cia Price of Newport News says she welcomes the governor’s involvement. “Absolutely because it gives us even more opportunity because every time I talk with someone the more we talk about the flaws about the amendment and less about talking points from one side or the other but actually look at the logistics of the amendment — what is there and what isn’t there, short of enabling legislation but the actual amendment — more people understand that it has flaws.”
Republican Delegate Mark Cole of Fredericksburg says he’s disappointed that the governor is delaying a vote on an amendment that’s a top priority for Republicans this year. “I’m confident if it makes it to the floor it will pass," Cole believes. "However, I’m concerned that the governor now is trying to insert himself into the process in order to kill the redistricting amendment.”
Republicans say they believe the votes to pass the amendment are there in the committee and on the House floor, so the real drama may end up being if either of those votes will take place. Or if lawmakers end up voting instead on Cia Price’s advisory commission or whatever the governor proposes but not the constitutional amendment.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
