Jan. 9, 2012 —
FRANKFORT - Lawmakers have only been in town for six working days, but some will tell you it feels closer to 60 at least in terms of the mood and the testiness.
It’s not hard to explain. Hovering over a controversial question of expanded gambling, over a “horrendous” budget, and everything else is a subject more important than all others to lawmakers — redistricting, said House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown.
“I can’t ever remember the tension and the frustration being this high during the first week. There are a lot of unknowns about everything, especially about re-districting.”
Hoover and his Republican caucus haven’t been told anything about the majority Democratic caucus plan to redraw districts. It’s the same for Sen. R.J. Palmer, D-Winchester, the Senate Minority Leader, and his Democratic Senate caucus down the hall.
But in the Democratic-controlled House, it’s not just the minority Republicans who are frustrated.
Redistricting “overrides the session until we get it done,” said House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. "It does get contentious. There is difficulty, particularly difficulty when you talk about county lines and the integrity of the county lines and that sort of thing.”
That’s why Stumbo wanted a special session to redraw legislative lines. But the Senate — and several House members — objected, saying voters don’t want to pay for a special session. They said there was no reason a plan couldn’t be passed in the first week of the General Assembly.
But one week has come and gone and there isn’t any obvious sign that either body will approve a redistricting plan early this week.
Since House Republicans haven’t even been shown a plan and since Stumbo and Democratic leaders didn’t take up the plan Monday as they once intended, it’s clear the Democrats are having problems coming to agreement among themselves.
“We’re working diligently to get it done,” Stumbo said. But he said once again that it’s his legal opinion the question could be delayed until the first part of 2013.
Neither Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, or State Government Committee Chairman Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, agrees.
“That’s not a good idea,” Thayer said Monday. “The constitution requires we re-district every 10 years. We’re ready in the Senate to deal with re-districting as soon as possible.”
Well, not exactly. The Senate hasn’t held hearings on any redistricting plan and Williams said Monday there wasn’t any need to do so until the House sent a bill to the Senate. He also said he doesn’t feel the tension among senators that seems to be roiling the House.
“You only feel pressure and tension up here if your primary purpose is to return here,” said Williams.
For Sen. Jared Carpenter, R-Berea, this is the second session of his first term. But he said Monday so far he didn’t think the atmosphere is as bad this year as last, a gubernatorial election year.
House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Okolona, said he tries to stay positive but he conceded that the “stress of redistricting has a lot of people feeling anxiety and uncertainty in both chambers.” Especially, he added, with lawmakers facing an austere budget and gambling votes. There’s nothing to do but to get to work and get it done, Clark said.
“After all, that’s why we all run for office,” Clark said.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
