House passes redistricting map
Gov. Martin O'Malley's congressional redistricting plan sailed through the House of Delegates today on a 91 to 46 vote, with only five Democrats voting against the governor.
The plan redraws the 6th congressional district, a reliably Republican seat in Western Maryland, and makes it a tossup by adding tens of thousands of liberal voters from Montgomery County.
The change angered House Republicans who tried three times to block the the measure. All of their efforts failed. The map also irked some Democrats, who felt that minority populations were carved up.
The measure requires another vote in the Senate because of technical changes before it goes to O'Malley for his signature as emergency legislation. Both chambers are expected to adjourn tomorrow.
The plan redraws the 6th congressional district, a reliably Republican seat in Western Maryland, and makes it a tossup by adding tens of thousands of liberal voters from Montgomery County.
The change angered House Republicans who tried three times to block the the measure. All of their efforts failed. The map also irked some Democrats, who felt that minority populations were carved up.
The measure requires another vote in the Senate because of technical changes before it goes to O'Malley for his signature as emergency legislation. Both chambers are expected to adjourn tomorrow.
Comments
This Republican-like gerrymandering is an embarrassment to our state and Governor O'Malley!
I will not vote for ANY representative or state senator who voted for this PIECE of CRAP!!
Posted by: DougFromLaurel | October 19, 2011 4:20 PM
Will the US Department of Justice intervene in the state's decision to forgo a third minority-majority district? Maryland's population is 45% minority and the largest county, Montgomery County, finds its population is almost 51% minority yet the state has only two truly certifiable minority-majority districts (25%) and it's Congressional Delegation is only 20% minority membership. O'Malley choosing to hang the redistricting over state seats over delegates and senators to get them to approve his racist plan is not only immoral, but downright dirty. The DOJ should be investigating the reconstructed districts OR a Montgomery County citizen should be challenging the legality of this plan in federal court.
Posted by: Eldridge Gerry | October 19, 2011 4:38 PM
This vote is just more of the same politics driven government favoring one side or the other.It is easy to do when the voters allow such a imbalance by voting for it.the party in power does whatever they want.This is why people are taking to the streets.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 19, 2011 5:08 PM
I don't understand, the President is African-American and the person ahead in the polls in the REPUBLICAN presidential primary is African-American. Why is it that minorities in Maryland think that they can't compete with white candidates or for white votes? Are Montgomery County Democratic voters racist? no, they have an African-American County Exec. Can we stop with this idea that minorities can only compete in minority districts, PLEASE
Posted by: JJ | October 19, 2011 8:43 PM