House Approves Redistricting Plan

The Kansas House has approved a plan favored

by conservative Republican leaders for redrawing the state’s four

congressional districts.

The House’s 64-51 vote Saturday sent the measure to the Senate.

Senate President Steve Morris, a moderate Hugoton Republican,

said he won’t block a vote, but he’s skeptical that the plan can

pass his chamber.

A key feature of the map is how it splits Lawrence, home to the

University of Kansas, between two districts.

The city is now divided between the 2nd District of eastern

Kansas and the 3rd District, centered on the Kansas City

metropolitan area.

The proposal would keep part of Lawrence in the 2nd but put

parts into 1st District with rural communities in central and

western Kansas that are 400 miles or more away.