A Democratic state senator from Janesville who said he wants to pull the drawing of Wisconsin's district maps out of the hands of parties insists the process would still allow the Legislature to approve the final map.
Under state Sen. Tim Cullen’s proposal, which mirrors the state of Iowa’s process for redrawing district boundaries, the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau would do the actual drawing, but the legislature would be able to vote for or against the lines proposed.
“We just don’t let the legislature draw the maps,” Cullen said. “The Legislative Reference Bureau drafts all the other bills that we consider.
“This is the one bill today that the Legislative Reference Bureau doesn’t draft, and we think they should,” he said.
Cullen, who is retiring from the state Senate after finishing his current term, said redistricting reform will help return compromise and moderates to state government. The current process, in which parties often draw districts to be as safe for incumbents as possible, only drives Democrats and Republicans apart, he said.
“This kind of gerrymandered map will produce more far to the right Republicans and more far to the left Democrats,” Cullen said. “The only thing the incumbent has to worry about is a primary from the extreme of their party. Their job is secure only as long as they don’t wander to the center.”
As for convincing Republicans to consider such a change, Cullen said he planned to remain dogged.
“If they won’t have a hearing at some point, we’ll have public sessions on it that amount to a hearing,” Cullen said.
