Senate GOP Wants New Redistricting Study Committee

Indiana Senate Republicans approved a resolution this week to study redistricting issues. That comes less than two years after a special two-year study commission that already explored the topic.

A redistricting study committee recommended in 2016 the legislature create an independent commission to draw Indiana’s district lines. Republican majorities have ignored that bipartisan recommendation.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) says recent court cases that have acknowledged political bias in legislative map making are behind the call for another study.

“Looking at what has caused the courts to side with the statisticians on this is something we should adopt into our own process to make sure that we don’t run afoul of that,” Long says.

Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) says more work wouldn’t be necessary if Republicans heeded the previous study committee’s recommendation.

“We wouldn’t have to worry about it because that passes the muster of constitutional issues,” Lanane says.

Study committee topics are assigned after session.