House Rejects Redistricting Map
KSCB News - March 21, 2012 4:21 pm
The Kansas House has rejected a congressional redistricting bill that would have kept the Kansas City area in a single district.
Wednesday’s vote was 76-48 against the bill, which was an alternative to a proposal by Republican House Speaker Mike O’Neal.
O’Neal wanted to split the Kansas City area, moving part of it into the 1st District of western and central Kansas. House members from both Kansas City and western Kansas didn’t like the plan.
They drafted a plan extending the 4th District of south-central Kansas into the state’s southeast corner.
O’Neal said the House will start over. He and Senate Reapportionment Committee Chairman Tim Owens, an Overland Park Republican, said the House vote means lawmakers’ options are narrowing.
