Wisconsin’s Senate Majority Leader is explaining why a special session on gerrymandering is still in effect in Madison.
Governor Tony Evers called for a special session to ban partisan gerrymandering in the state.
Previously, when Gov. Evers called for a special session, the Republican-controlled legislature would gavel in and gavel out, effectively adjourning any session.
This time, Sen. Devin LeMahieu and the Republicans just postponed it.
The Senate majority leader explained on the WCUB Breakfast Club that state maps need to be redrawn every year.
“The reason is because after you have a new census, you have to balance out the districts,” he described. “Because not all parts of the state grow equally, so that way, every senate district has about the same amount of people in, and every assembly district has about the same amount of people in.”
LeMahieu says Evers wants the redistricting process to be “fair”, which he says is very vague.
Yet the majority believes there is some merit to this session, which could include parameters in the future.
Last time maps were redrawn, the Oostburg Republican says they were more compacted.
“As square as possible and keep municipalities in the same district,” he recalled. “So you’re not splitting up, trying to get as much of my district in Sheboygan and Manitowoc County, and not go into Fond du Lac and Calumet (counties).”
LeMahieu also noted with map redrawing,“The (Wisconsin) Constitution does give that power to the legislature, and we want to make sure that we’re the election officials closest to the people, that we still have power to draw the new maps.”
Although both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature have adjourned, the Senate can be called back into session.
When that would happen is unclear at this time.
