Closed-door negotiations between citizens' groups and state lawmakers over competing Congressional redistricting plans broke down last night without procuding an agreement.
Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles reports.
The two sides have been trying to amend a redistricting plan GOP lawmakers want in a way that would be acceptable to citizens’ groups that are pushing their own reform for the fall ballot. But shortly after 10 last night, Catherine Turcer from Common Cause Ohio said changes had not been enough to accomplish her groups’ basic goals.
“It does not address gerrymandering. It does not keep communities together. And it doesn’t prohibit drawing a district map to favor or disfavor one political party. These are basic things you want in any proposal.”
Talks continue but lawmakers are running out of time. They’d need to pass their plan before February 7th to get it on the May ballot.
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Meanwhile, Ohio Governor John Kasich says he’s willing to help broker a deal between Republican lawmakers and citizens’ groups on a Congressional redistricting plan. Kasich says any plan must have minority party input, but suggests the citizens’ groups opposing the lawmakers’ plan may be trying to turn out voters for their November ballot issue.
Kasich also says he is willing to convene a meeting between the two sides if asked.