No Deal On Redistricting Reached

Idaho’s secretary of state said the gem state’s legislative boundaries are unconstitutional.

Now Ben Yasursa has asked the redistricting commission to reconvene after it is given additional direction from the state Supreme Court.

This comes after commissioners were unable to come to a consensus on new legislative boundaries by Tuesday’s deadline.

If it’s anything like it was 10 years ago when this happened, the court will clarify the state statutes and give the commission a new time frame to finish the job.

In the final hours of the state’s reapportionment commission’s last meeting Tuesday evening, the 90 days of work came to a halt with no consensus.

“The Republicans started submitting maps that we hadn’t seen or worked with, designed, so there would be no agreement,? Commission co-chair Allen Andersen said.

Andersen said it was very political.

“Because we wanted to maintain our minimal areas with Democratic influence in the state and the Republicans wanted to ensure the those were not maintained, they made every effort to slice and dice them,? Andersen said.

Sen. Pro Tem Brent Hill said much of the trouble also stems from the lack of clarification on state statutes.

“There is confusion on what the precedent should be. What are the most important statutes we need to meet?? Hill said

But after two commissions have failed, its future is uncertain.

“There’s lots of things we can look at, and we probably do need to look and see if there is a better way to do it,? Hill said.

For now, it’s a waiting game.

“Well, the court will decide. they may or may not call us back. They may call a new commission. They could look at the plan itself. Who knows what will happen. We’ll just have to wait to see what the courts decide,? commission co-chair Evan Frasure said.

At the close of Tuesday’s meeting, Frasure said he may not continue to serve on the commission due to health reasons.

If Frasure chooses to resign, Hill would name a replacement.

There is no specific time frame in which the new lines must be drawn, but those running for office in fall 2012 must register by March.

If the commission cannot reach a consensus, the courts would have to draw the lines.